RALEIGH – Junior Melanie Horne scored a game-high 16 points, including a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the final 2-1/2 minutes of regulation, to lead the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team to a 63-58 victory at Saint Augustine's on Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the third win in the last four outings for the Braves (4-2) who put the finishing touches on 2-1 road trip with the result as well. It was the second-straight setback for the Falcons (2-2) whose two losses have come by seven combined points.



 

THE BASICS

Score: UNC Pembroke 63, St. Augustine's 58 Records: UNC Pembroke 4-2, St. Augustine's 2-2 Location: Raleigh, N.C. (Emery Gymnasium)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Neither team was able to gain an edge in a first quarter that featured two lead changes and four tie scores. Both teams forged four-point advantages, including a 14-10 lead by the Braves with 1:49 left, but the game ultimately stood at a 16-16 stalemate heading into the second quarter.

2ND QUARTER

The Braves held Saint Augustine's to just four made field goals in the second period and eventually took a 29-28 lead into halftime. A 3-point from Kaaliya Williams just less than 90 seconds in gave the Falcons a 22-16 lead, but UNCP tacked up seven of the period's final 10 points to storm ahead.

3RD QUARTER

Saint Augustine's forced 12 turnovers by the Braves in the third quarter to give itself a slight edge, but still was not able to gain much separation on the scoreboard. Aliyah Farmer hit the front end of a two-shot foul to give the game its seventh tie score, 41-41, at the 1:44 mark, but Quiera Gilmore's jumper with 19 seconds left gave the hosts a 43-41 lead heading into the final period.

4TH QUARTER

The Braves pulled down 13 rebounds in the fourth quarter alone, but it was a quartet of 3-pointers that eventually pushed them to victory. The Braves took the lead for good on a layup from Aliyah Farmer at the 4:42 mark, but Melanie Horne connected on 3-pointers less than a minute apart later in the period to stretch the lead out to six points, 60-54. A potential game-tying jumper from Kaaliya Williams with 41 seconds left hit the side of the iron, and the Braves preserved the win by hitting three of their final four attempts from the free throw line.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Junior Melanie Horne matched a game-high with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including a 4-for-11 clip from the perimeter. + Senior Aliyah Farmer added 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while also notching seven rebounds as well. + Senior ShaNiya Lester pulled down a game-best nine rebounds, while also adding two assists and a pair of steals.

NOTABLES

+ The Braves improved to 2-1 all-time against Saint Augustine's. Saturday's matchup was the first meeting between the two squads in Raleigh. + UNCP is now 3-1 in true road games this season. The contest with the Falcons on Saturday wrapped up a three-game road trip for the Black & Gold as well. + Saint Augustine's Quiera Gilmore entered Saturday's game with an NCAA Division II-leading 5.0 steals per game. She managed just one on Saturday against the Black & Gold.

UP NEXT

The Braves will get a week off from competition before resuming their 2019-20 regular season on November 30 against Chowan (1-3) at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

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JOIN THE BRAVES CLUB

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Women's Basketball program by joining the Braves Club. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu.