FLORENCE, SC – Senior guard Brittany Young scored 19 points, while juniors Jennifer Dyer and Creshenda Singletary added 16 each to lead Francis Marion University to a 112-81 non-conference victory over Wingate University, Tuesday evening (Nov. 27) in women’s basketball action.

The Patriots (4-0) equal their best start in eight seasons, and record their third consecutive 100-point outing for only the third time in the storied 35-year history of the program.  The three-game total of 338 combined points is the most of any three-game span in team history.

Junior guard Anna Atkinson paced Wingate (2-4) with a game-high 22 points and 12 assists.  She was 12-of-17 from the free throw line.  Sophomore 6-2 forward Erica Crumlin, native of Irmo, added 15 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore 6-4 center Stacie Rhodes and reserve forward CC Brooks chipped in 10 points apiece. 

Wingate took advantage of a cold-shooting start by the Patriots and led 21-9 as FMU misfired on 12 of its first 15 shots.  The Bulldog advantage was nine points (30-21) following two free throws by Atkinson with 7:27 left in the opening half.  However, sparked by YaRiah Bell and Rita Grayson, Francis Marion outscored the Bulldogs 26-13 over the final seven minutes to grab a 47-43 halftime lead.

A 16-4 spurt following intermission ballooned the Patriot lead to 63-47 only 3:39 into the second half.  FMU went on to outscore Wingate 65-38 over the final 20 minutes, only four points shy of the Patriot record for most points in a half.  The Patriots shot 54.8 percent in the final half, while holding Wingate to 37.5 percent.

For the entire game, Francis Marion made 10 of 19 shots from beyond the three-point stripe, while Wingate was 0-for-3 from deep.  The Patriots also converted 32 Wingate turnovers into 40 points.

Francis Marion opens Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Ga.  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.  Wingate plays host to Newberry College on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.

11-27-07 7 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 112, WINGATE UNIVERSITY 81
 

 WINGATE UNIVERSITY (2-4)
Atkinson, Anna 5-8 12-17 22; Crumlin, Erica 6-14 3-4 15; Rhodes, Stacie 5-7
0-0 10; Brooks, CC 4-6 2-4 10; Gillis, Kasey 2-12 2-2 6; Keitt, Jessy 2-5
2-4 6; Edwards, Kate 2-7 1-2 5; Shuey, Stefani 2-2 0-0 4; West, Brittany 0-1
3-4 3; Parrish, Emily 0-0 0-0 0; Mincey, Paige 0-2 0-0 0; Tucker, Leslie 0-0
0-0 0; Rosser, Sarah 0-2 0-2 0; Beeson, Lauren 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-67 25-39
81.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (4-0)
Young, Brittany 6-11 6-6 19; Singletary,Creshenda 7-11 0-2 16; Dyer,
Jennifer 6-11 1-2 16; Grayson, Rita 3-8 2-2 9; Bell, YaRiah 4-8 0-0 8;
Morgan, Shaquana 3-9 2-2 8; Allen, Ebony 2-7 2-3 7; Ruff, Evelyn 3-4 0-0 6;
Marsh, Kirby 2-2 2-3 6; Singleton-Bates, Sha 2-5 1-2 6; Dixon, Yasmean 0-3
4-8 4; Ransom, Kevina 2-4 0-0 4; Guilliams, Renee 1-1 0-0 3; Kiefer,
Katherine 0-1 0-0 0; Abed, Ashley 0-1 0-0 0; Mack, Shavone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals
41-86 20-30 112.
Halftime: Francis Marion 47  Wingate University  43 .
3-point goals-Wingate University 0-3 (; Edwards, Kate 0-2; Beeson, Lauren
0-1), Francis Marion University 10-19 (Dyer, Jennifer 3-5;
Singletary,Creshenda 2-5; Guilliams, Renee 1-1; Allen, Ebony 1-1;
Singleton-Bates, Sha 1-1; Grayson, Rita 1-3; Young, Brittany 1-1; Morgan,
Shaquana 0-2). Fouled out--Wingate University-Brooks, CC, Francis Marion
University-Ransom, Kevina. Rebounds-Wingate University 47 (Crumlin, Erica
11), Francis Marion University 48 (Morgan, Shaquana 8). Assists-Wingate
University 21 (Atkinson, Anna 12), Francis Marion University 22 (Morgan,
Shaquana 3; Ransom, Kevina 3; Young, Brittany 3; Allen, Ebony 3). Total
fouls-Wingate University 22, Francis Marion University 27. A-700
Charges drawn: Kiefer