PEMBROKE – Nationally-ranked North Georgia shot nearly 44 percent from the field, including an impressive 8-for-23 success rate from the perimeter, and led for nearly 39-1/2 minutes on the way to a 59-45 victory over the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team on Saturday at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
 
It was the third loss in the last four outings for the Braves (6-5, 1-2 PBC) who finished Saturday's outing with 26 points in the paint and a 37-33 edge in the rebounding column. The result marked the fourth-straight victory for the 12^th-ranked Nighthawks (10-1, 3-0) who collected just their third victory in Pembroke (12 matchups) as well.
 

THE BASICS

SCORE: North Georgia 59, UNC Pembroke 45 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 6-5, 1-2 PBC; North Georgia 10-1, 3-0 PBC LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

The Braves grabbed a 5-3 lead on a 3-pointer from Aliyah Farmer just three minutes into the contest, but North Georgia answered with a 13-0 run over the next five minutes that gave it the lead for good. The Black & Gold missed its next seven shots after taking the early lead, and trailed 20-10 heading into the second period.

2ND QUARTER

The Nighthawks pushed their lead out to 13 points just 2-1/2 minutes into the second quarter, but back-to-back baskets by the hosts helped trim the deficit back down to single digits at the 4:06 mark. Neither team was able to swing the momentum after that, and North Georgia lugged a 35-25 lead into the break.

3RD QUARTER

Aliyah Farmer scored the first two buckets of the second half and trimmed UNC Pembroke's deficit back to six points, 35-29, just 90 seconds in. The Nighthawks pushed their lead back out to a dozen points, 47-35, after Julianne Sutton's layup with just less than a minute left, but Aniah McManus hit a basket on the other end of the court to make it a 10-point game again heading to the final stanza.

4TH QUARTER

North Georgia took its largest lead of the day, 55-39, on a jumper from Julianne Sutton at the 5:01 mark. The Braves used a layup from Jillian Ebron two minutes later to trim the deficit back to 12 points, 57-45, but the hosts could get no closer.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Melanie Horne and Aliyah Farmer each scored nine points. Horne added three steals and a block, while Farmer logged two rebounds. + Jillian Ebron recorded seven points and five rebounds. + Deja McCain led the Braves on the glass by pulling down eight rebounds.

NOTABLES

+ UNC Pembroke held North Georgia to its second-lowest point total of the season. The Nighthawks came into the contest averaging 73.7 points an outing. + Saturday's result marked just the third loss for the Braves in 12 meetings with North Georgia at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. + The Braves posted a 37-33 advantage in the rebounding column on Saturday. It is the fourth time this season that UNCP has out-rebounded its opponent, and the second time in three games that the Black & Gold has accomplished that task.

UP NEXT

The Braves will get a two-week break from competition before traveling to face Young Harris on January 4. Tipoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. inside the YHC Basketball Arena.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow UNCP Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" UNCP Women's Basketball on Facebook.

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.