| THE BASICS |
SCORE: UNC Pembroke 56, Belmont Abbey 46
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 22-9; Belmont Abbey (23-5)
LOCATION: Spartanburg, S.C. (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium) |
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| HOW IT HAPPENED |
| 1ST QUARTER |
| The Braves tossed a shooting hex at Belmont Abbey in the opening quarter which set the tone of the game early on. The Crusaders went 0-for-10 from the field in the opening stanza, but did manage to score on a pair of free throws with 2:42 left. UNCP, in turn, went 4-for-10 from the field and 5-for-7 from the line en route to forging a 14-2 lead after 10 minutes. |
| 2ND QUARTER |
| Maintain the lead was the predicted theme for the Black & Gold in the second quarter, and that is what it did. Neither team was able to manage more than 27 percent field goal shooting, but Abbey went 7-for-8 from the line to keep itself in the contest. The net result was that the Crusaders whittled away at their deficit, but UNCP still carried a 23-14 advantage into the intermission. |
| 3RD QUARTER |
| Belmont Abbey found its offensive groove in the third quarter, and closed the period with a 14-3 run to make it a one-possession game, 36-34, heading to the final period. The Crusaders shot better than 46 percent from the field in the stanza, including a 5-for-6 shooting touch over the last four minutes that got the fans back on the edge of their seats. |
| 4TH QUARTER |
| Belmont Abbey knotted the score up for the first time since tipoff with a layup just 41 seconds into the fourth quarter, but the Braves scored nine of the game's next 11 points to distance themselves for good. The Crusaders got to within two possessions, 49-44, on Abigail Crain's jumper at the 1:16 mark, but that was pretty much it for the Abbey the rest of the way out. UNCP connected on its only field goal attempt down the stretch, while also turning in a 5-for-6 showing from the charity stripe, to ice the outcome. |
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| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
+ Tournament Most Valuable Player Kalaya Hall fueled a game-best 21 points with a 7-for-7 mark from the free throw line, while also adding four rebounds, one block and an assist.
+ Sophomore Zaria Clark, who also nabbed a spot on the all-tournament team, notched her 11th career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
+ Redshirt junior Aniah McManus also garnered a spot on the all-tournament team. She turned in six points, five rebounds and six assists in Sunday's title game. |
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| NOTABLES |
+ The Braves notched their first conference tournament championship as an NCAA Division II member with Sunday's result. It is the sixth conference tournament crown in program history, however, as the Black & Gold hoisted then-Carolinas Conference Tournament trophies in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1992.
+ UNCP was just 3-22 in conference tournament games since 1992 heading into the weekend, but doubled that total with as many wins in Spartanburg over the last three days. The Braves had not posted consecutive tournament wins since the 1980s prior to this weekend as well.
+ The Black & Gold will make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament by virtue of capturing the league's automatic berth. UNCP will learn of its NCAA Southeast Regional destination via the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Sunday evening. That program is set to air at 10:30 p.m. at NCAA.com. |
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| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will learn of their NCAA Southeast Regional destination with the unveiling of the NCAA Tournament Field late Sunday evening. The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show is scheduled to air at 10:30 p.m. at NCAA.com. |
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| STAY CONNECTED |
| Follow UNCP Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" UNCP Women's Basketball on Facebook. |
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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. |
