DAHLONEGA, Ga.  – Peach Belt Conference-leading North Georgia held the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team to a combined 11 points in the first and third periods and shot better than 46 percent in the first half on the way to a 76-53 victory over the Braves on Sunday.
 
It was the fifth-straight road loss for the Black & Gold (8-16, 7-11 PBC) who fell to 2-9 in the series inside the Convocation Center as well. The triumph marked the sixth-straight win for the Nighthawks (20-4, 15-3) who avenged a 53-44 loss to the Braves on January 5 in Pembroke.




 

THE BASICS

Score: North Georgia 76, UNC Pembroke 53 Records: UNC Pembroke 8-16, 7-11 PBC; North Georgia 20-4, 15-3 PBC Location: Dahlonega, Ga. (UNG Convocation Center)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

North Georgia scored the game's first 11 points of the game before Aliyah Farmer put the Braves on the board with two free throws at the 6:35 mark. Tee Graham trimmed the Braves deficit back to 12-5 on a fastbreak 3-pointer from the corner just 10 seconds later, but the Nighthawks answered by scoring eight of the period's final 10 points to take a 20-7 lead into the second quarter.

2ND QUARTER

The hosts used a 0-for-5 shooting performance from the Back & Gold to fuel a 6-0 scoring surge that stretched their lead out to 31-12 with 3-1/2 minutes left before the break. North Georgia led by as many as 23 points, 40-17, after a pair of free throws by Tamera Thorpe with 38 seconds remaining, but Tee Graham's 3-pointer 15 seconds later made it a 40-20 contest heading into halftime.

3RD QUARTER

Avery Locklear's bucket just more than a minute into the second half cut the deficit back to 43-22, but the Braves would manage just one other field goal in the third period. The Nighthawks scored 12-straight points to stretch their advantage out to 56-22, and then answered Aliyah Farmer's layup at the 4:38 mark with six more points to lug a 38-point cushion into the final quarter.

4TH QUARTER

UNC Pembroke came away with points on its first seven possessions to fuel an 18-5 run that whittled the deficit back to 67-42 with 5:30 remaining. The Black & Gold outscored the hosts 29-14 in the quarter and pulled to within 22 points, 73-51, on Tee Graham's 3-pointer with 1:42 to play, but North Georgia never disengaged cruise control.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Tee Graham scored a team-high 15 points with a 5-for-9 clip from the perimeter. Graham also added three rebounds, three steals and one assist. + Alecia Hardy added nine points as well as four rebounds and one block. Hardy also led team in steals with four, and assists with five. + Avery Locklear and Melanie Horne each tallied seven points.

NOTABLES

+ North Georgia posted a 26-8 scoring disparity in the paint on Sunday, while also out-rebounding the Braves, 44-33. + The setback marked the fifth-straight road loss for the Braves who fell to 2-9 all-time against North Georgia in Dahlonega. + The triumph helped the then-No. 10 Nighthawks avenge a 53-44 loss to the Braves back on January 5 in Pembroke.

UP NEXT

The Braves will close out their three-game road trip on Wednesday when they trek to Aiken, S.C., to take on USC Aiken (13-1, 9-9 PBC). Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.

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.