FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University women’s basketball team finished this past season as the top scoring team in NCAA Division II, while also leading the nation in thefts. Several Patriot players were also listed in the end-of-the-season statistical report.

The Patriots, in their first year under head coach Heather Macy, posted a 21-9 record, equaling the largest won-loss record turn-around in Division II women’s basketball in 2007-08 and the ninth-best in Division II history. FMU was 6-22 in 2006-07.

Francis Marion captured a share of the Peach Belt Conference regular-season crown and earned a bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament, where the program served as host for the South Atlantic Regional.

The Patriots averaged 89.3 points per game this past season and 18.5 steals per game. FMU also ranked fifth nationally in assists per game (18.5), 20th in scoring margin (+12.3 ppg), 49th in won-loss percentage, 54th in field goal percentage (43.3%), and 89th in assist/turnover ratio (0.82). Approximately 300 schools play Division II women’s basketball.

Individually, junior point guard Kevin Ransom led the nation in steals per game with 4.9 per contest, and the Roanoke Rapids, N.C., native also ranked 16th in assists per game (5.9). Her season total of 146 steals equaled the 11th highest total in Division II history, and twice during the season she broke the school’s single-game record for steals with game-totals of 11 and 12.

Junior guard Jennifer Dyer was listed 27th for steals per game (2.9), while senior guard Brittany Young was 65th in the same category at 2.4 steals per game.

The Patriots featured a balanced scoring attack that had seven players averaging between 8.9 and 13.5 points per game. FMU eclipsed the 100-point mark eight times in 2007-08, the most since the 1986-87 squad also accomplished that feat. The campaign was FMU’s first 20-win season in seven years and the 20th in the team’s 34-year history.