DUE WEST, S.C. – The UNC Pembroke women's basketball team shot a season-best 48.9 percent from the field and scored 22 points in the paint to highlight a 54-26 victory over Erskine on Monday at Belk Arena. 
 
The Braves (13-7, 9-2 CC) have now won 13 out of their last 15 contest and have held three out of their last four opponents to under 30 percent shooting. The Flying Fleet (4-11, 2-9 CC) have now lost their last four contests and fall to 1-5 when playing on their home court. 
 

THE BASICS

SCORE: UNC Pembroke 54, Erskine 26 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 13-7, 10-2 CC; Erskine 4-11, 2-9 CC LOCATION: Due West, S.C. (Belk Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

UNC Pembroke started the game on an 18-0 run that stretched to the 1:52 mark after a jumper from Zaria Clark. Erskine was limited to just 1-for-10 shooting from the field and scored its only bucket with 55 seconds on the clock. Kalaya Hall extended the UNCP lead out to 20-3 with a layup to end the period.

2ND QUARTER

A 9-3 Flying Fleet run cut the hosts deficit back to 28-16 with 2:08 remaining in the half. Both teams shot 33.3 percent from the field, but the Braves held a 28-18 lead as the teams headed into the locker rooms.

3RD QUARTER

UNC Pembroke extended its lead out to 37-19 after a 9-1 run capped off with a layup from Zaria Clark with 6:36 left in the quarter. The Braves defense did not allow the Flying Fleet to score a basket, with the hosts five points coming from the free throw line during the frame. Malea Garrison's jumper in the paint pushed the Black & Gold lead out to 40-23 heading into the final stanza.

4TH QUARTER

Erskine's Mariah Corry knocked down a trey to whittle its deficit back to 45-26, but that would be the only basket the Flying Fleet would score. UNCP shot 50 percent from the field and closed out the game on a 9-0 scoring run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Zaria Clark logged a game-high 16 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Clark tallied six rebounds, three assists, one block and a steal in 29 minutes of work.   + Kalaya Hall finished the contest with 15 points highlighted by a 3-for-6 clip from the perimeter.  + Lillian Flantos pulled down a game-best eight rebounds, while Malea Garrison came off of the bench and grabbed six boards. Aniah McManus finished the outing with six assists.

NOTABLES

+ UNC Pembroke shot 48.9 percent from the field during the contests. Monday's stellar shooting performance marked a season-high for the Braves. + The Black & Gold limited Erskine to just single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters. + It was the fourth time this season the Flying Fleet have been held to under 20-percent shooting from the field during a contest. Erskine shot 14.9 percent during Monday's loss, which marked the second-lowest shooting percentage on the season. + UNCP's defense forced Erskine to take 34 of their 47 field goal attempts from the 3-point line.

UP NEXT

The Braves will return action at home on Wednesday when they welcome Mount Olive (10-10, 6-6 CC) to Pembroke for Military Appreciation Night. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

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BACK THE BRAVES

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.