FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion scored 24 points off of 25 turnovers by the UNC Pembroke women's basketball team and pulled down 20 offensive rebounds to coast to a 76-52 victory over the Braves on Wednesday evening inside the Smith University Center.
 
The setback marked the fifth-straight loss for the Braves (8-19, 7-14 PBC) who have now come away empty on their last four trips to Florence, S.C. as well. It was the third win in the last four outings for the Patriots (11-14, 8-13) who moved a game ahead of the Black & Gold in the race for the eighth and final spot in next week's Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

 

THE BASICS

Score: Francis Marion 76, UNC Pembroke 52 Records: UNC Pembroke 8-19, 7-14 PBC; Francis Marion 11-14, 8-13 PBC Location: Florence, S.C. (Smith University Center)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Francis Marion led 15-9 after a layup from Zaria Woods at the 3:25 mark, but the Braves tacked up five-straight points and made it a one-point game, 15-14, on a 3-pointer from Tee Graham just more than a minute later. The Patriots scored six of the last eight points of the quarter, however, to push their advantage out to 21-16.

2ND QUARTER

The hosts opened the quarter on a 13-3 run to stretch their advantage out to 34-19 with 5-1/2 minutes remaining in the half. Se'Dasia Love got hot hands for the Braves and scored the next six points of the game to cut the Braves deficit back 36-25 with four minutes left in the period. UNCP scored its last basket of the half with 2:28 remaining and cut its deficit back to 39-31, but the hosts added four more baskets from the charity stripe to take a 43-31 lead into the break.

3RD QUARTER

UNCP missed its first four field goal attempts in the second half and turned the ball over three times to fuel a 9-2 run by the Patriots that padded their lead out to 52-33. FMU led by as many as 20 points, 57-37, after a layup from Shaunice Fulmore at the 2:57 mark, and eventually rode a 61-43 lead into the final period.

4TH QUARTER

Francis Marion pushed its lead out to 23 points, 66-43, just 59 seconds into the fourth quarter, but the Braves answered with seven-straight points to cut into their deficit. The hosts would answer, however, and tallied 10 of the next 11 points to take their largest lead of the night, 76-51, on a fastbreak bucket by Abigail Bullock with 19 ticks left.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Tee Graham scored a team-high 15 points on a 7-for-11 shooting. She also added four assists and three rebounds as well. + Aliyah Farmer turned in a 10-point performance highlighted by a 6-for-9 clip from the charity stripe.

NOTABLES

+ UNCP has dropped its last five outings, and moved to 1-11 in true road games this season with the setback as well. + The Braves have lost four-straight on the road in the series with the Patriots. UNCP last tasted victory inside the Smith University Center on Jan. 14, 2015. + Francis Marion moved a game ahead of the Black & Gold in the race for the eighth and final spot in next week's Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

UP NEXT

The Braves will close out their regular season schedule on Saturday when they travel to St. Augustine, Fla., to take on Flagler (20-7, 16-5 PBC) inside the Flagler Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 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.