PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke women's basketball team shot better than 42 percent from the field and picked up 34 points in the paint on the way to a big 65-56 victory against Barton on Wednesday evening at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. 
 
The victory for the Braves (18-7, 15-2 CC) have held their opponents to under 39-percent shooting and have won their last nine contests at home. The setback for the Bulldogs (7-15, 7-8 CC) snapped a three-game winning streak and fall to 10-25 all-time against UNCP. 



 

THE BASICS

SCORE: UNC Pembroke 65, Barton 56 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 18-7, 15-2 CC; Barton 7-15, 7-8 CC LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

UNC Pembroke took its first lead of the evening 6-3, after a 6-0 scoring surge capped off with a running layup from Kalaya Hall with 5:46 left in the opening period. Barton responded with a 10-0 run to take a 13-6 lead with 1:40 on the clock, but Courtney Smith scored the next four points to close out the frame as the hosts trailed 13-10.

2ND QUARTER

The Braves used a quick five points from Zaria Clark's jumper and Hannah Russell's trey to push the UNCP lead out to 15-13 just a minute into the quarter. Barton was limited to just 33.3-percent shooting and was 0-for-6 from the perimeter, and the hosts used a 12-3 run to close out the half and send the teams into the locker rooms with UNC Pembroke leading 31-25.

3RD QUARTER

The Bulldogs started the half on a 7-0 scoring advantage to take a 32-31 lead after a Lauren Walker 3-pointer with 8:19 left in the quarter. The Braves started to pull away, 42-40, after a five-point swing thanks to Alcenia Purnell and Kelci Adams with just under three minutes left in the period. Courtney Smith made good on a pair of layups to extend the UNCP lead out to 46-42 heading into the final stanza.

4TH QUARTER

Barton trimmed its deficit back to 50-46, after Lauren Walker's jumper with 7:18 remaining in regulation. UNCP took its largest lead of the evening, 61-48, after an 8-0 run with 3:15 left on the clock to help finalize the outcome.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Courtney Smith tallied a game-best 17 points on a 7-for-14 performance from the field. Smith nearly registered a double-double dishing out eight assists in 35 minutes. + Zaria Clark turned in her fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-best and career-high 14 rebounds.  + Alcenia Purnell came off of the bench to spark the offense adding eight points while also logging a steal, block and a rebound.

NOTABLES

+ UNC Pembroke shot 42.2 percent from the field, which marked the best offensive night since shooting 48.9 percent at Erskine on Jan. 23. + The Braves limited the Bulldogs to just 19-percent shooting from the perimeter, which marked the worst since Barton shot 9.1 percent from deep against Belmont Abbey on Jan. 14. + UNCP held the lead for 64 percent (25:36) of Wednesday's contest.  + The Black & Gold held a 34-24 advantage with points in the paint.  + The Braves have now won their last nine games at home.  + UNCP captured both meetings with Barton this season, which marked the first time the Braves have swept the Bulldogs since the 1991-1992 season.

UP NEXT

The Braves will be back in action at home on Wednesday when they welcome Chowan (14-8, 10-6 CC) to Pembroke for Educator Appreciation Night. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

STAY CONNECTED

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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.