PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke women's basketball team matched a season-best with 11 3-pointers, went 16-for-18 from the free throw line and scored 20 or more points in each of the final three quarters to capture a key Peach Belt Conference victory over USC Aiken on Wednesday evening at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
 
 
The outcome snapped a three-game losing streak for the Braves (11-14, 6-11 PBC) who handed head coach John Haskins his 300^th combined victory as the coach of both the men's and women's programs at UNCP. The Pacers (14-11, 9-8 PBC) have now dropped six of the last seven matchups in the series with the Black & Gold, including the last four meetings at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

 

THE BASICS

SCORE: UNC Pembroke 77, USC Aiken 71 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 11-14, 6-11 PBC, USC Aiken 14-11, 9-8 PBC LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

USC Aiken scored the first four points of the contest to take its largest lead of the night just less than two minutes in, but UNCP took control after that and eventually grabbed a 10-7 lead on Jillian Ebron's 3-pointer with just more than four minutes remaining in the period. The Pacers came out on the better end of cold shooting over the last four minutes, and held a 15-13 advantage heading into the second quarter.

2ND QUARTER

A trey from ShaNiya Lester midway through the period pushed the Braves out in front, 30-26, but USC Aiken had the hot hand after that and connected on three of its next four shots to eventually take a 34-33 lead into the locker rooms.

3RD QUARTER

UNC Pembroke took its largest lead of the night, 54-43, following back-to-back 3-pointers from Melanie Horne with 3-1/2 minutes remaining in the quarter. The hosts limited USC Aiken to just 25 percent shooting from the field in the period, and held a 56-49 advantage heading into the final stanza.

4TH QUARTER

The Pacers knotted the score at 62 apiece off of a 3-pointer from Kanna Suzuki with 3:45 remaining in regulation, but UNCP connected on nine of its last 10 free throws over the final two minutes to fuel the outcome. A two-point game, 73-71, with seven seconds to play, Kanna Suzuki was called for an intentional foul at the timeline, and ShaNiya Lester connected on both ensuing free throws to all but seal the home win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ShaNiya Lester logged a career-high 18 points, while also flirting with a double-double by pulling down eight rebounds as well. + Deja McCain matched a career-high with 13 points. She added seven boards and had six assists. + Alcenia Purnell turned in 13 points which was keyed by a 3-for-5 clip from the perimeter. She also recorded six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. + Melanie Horne and Courtney Smith added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

NOTABLES

+ The Black & Gold matched a season-high by converting on 11 of their 26 attempts from the perimeter. The Pacers shot just 28 percent (7-for-25) from 3-point territory. + UNCP maintained the lead for more than 29 minutes of action. + The Braves have captured six of the last seven matchups with USC Aiken, including the last four in Pembroke. + The victory marked the 300th career coaching victory for John Haskins - all of which have at the helm of the men's and women's programs in Pembroke. The enthusiastic mentor logged 105 wins at the reins of the men's program from 1992-02, and has led the women's team to 195 wins since taking over as head coach in 2004-05.

UP NEXT

The Braves will welcome Columbus State (16-7, 11-6 PBC) to Pembroke on Saturday for Beach Day. Tipoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

STAY CONNECTED

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

JOIN THE BRAVES CLUBThe Braves will return to Pembroke on Wednesday when they host USC Aiken (14-10, 9-7 PBC) in the front end of a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader on Neon Night at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

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.