FLORENCE, S.C. - Senior forward Danielle Moore scored 20 points to lead four Francis Marion University players in double digits as the Patriots defeated Columbus State University 68-61, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 18) in Peach Belt Conference women's action.
The Patriots improve to 10-13 overall and 8-9 in the PBC, while completing their first home-and-away season-sweep of Columbus State (15-13, 8-10) in 10 years.
Moore also tallied seven rebounds, while surpassing the 1,200-point mark for her career. With 1,203 points, she moved past former Patriot guards Fenissa Rice and Kim Slawson to occupy 16th position on the Patriot all-time scoring list.
FMU reserves Renee Guilliams and Katherine Kiefer scored 12 and 10 points respectively, while point guard Brittany Young scored 10 points and handed out nine assists.
Senior forward Erin Gibbs led Columbus State with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Shana Hudmon and Abena Bosia came off the Lady Cougar bench to score 11 and 10 points respectively.
CSU took an early 8-2 lead as the Lady Cougars held FMU without a field goal for the opening six minutes. However, Francis Marion responded with a 12-0 run to take the lead for good. The Patriots led 35-25 at intermission.
Gibbs hit two free throws and Hudmon scored on a fast-break layup to open the second stanza and trim the FMU lead to 35-29. However, CSU missed its next 17 field goal attempts over a span of 11 minutes allowing the Patriot advantage to balloon to 51-34.
A layup by Moore gave Francis Marion a commanding 60-44 lead with 44:46 remaining. A 7-3 spurt in the game’s final minute allowed the Lady Cougars to cut the final margin under double figures.
The FMU defense accounted for 13 steals, the most by the Patriots since the opening week of the season, as CSU committed 25 turnovers.
FMU will play at UNC Pembroke, Monday night at 5:30 p.m., while CSU visits Clayton State University, also Monday at 5:30 p.m.
2-18-06 2 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 68, COLUMBUS STATE 61
COLUMBUS STATE (15-13 , 8-10 PBC)
Gibbs, Erin 5-11 7-9 17; Hudmon, Shana 4-8 2-2 11; Bosia, Abena 3-6 3-6 10;
Taylor, Tabasha 3-12 2-2 8; Walker, Cherwonna 3-11 0-1 6; Allen, LaShonda
1-3 2-2 4; Pulici, Karina 1-6 0-0 3; Holder, Erin 1-3 0-0 2; Jones, Erica
0-1 0-0 0; Hardeman, Shanrika 0-0 0-0 0; Ellison, Alexandria 0-0 0-0 0;
Pierce, Charla 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-61 16-22 61.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (10-13 , 8-9 PBC)
Moore, Danielle 7-18 6-8 20; Guilliams, Renee 4-9 0-0 12; Kiefer, Katherine
3-5 4-5 10; Young, Brittany 4-6 1-3 10; Marsh, Kirby 1-3 6-6 9; Mack,
Shavone 2-13 0-0 4; Downer, Shonelle 1-8 0-0 2; Preal, Shaketa 0-1 1-2 1.
Totals 22-63 18-24 68.
Halftime-Francis Marion 35 Columbus State 25
3-point goals-Columbus State 3-13 (Bosia 1-2; Hudmon 1-4; Pulici 1-4; Holder
0-1; Gibbs 0-2), Francis Marion 6-12 (Guilliams 4-8; Marsh 1-1; Young 1-1;
Kiefer 0-2). Fouled out--None. Rebounds-Columbus State 45 (Gibbs 9), Francis
Marion 38 (Moore 7). Assists-Columbus State 12 (Taylor 3; Pulici 3), Francis
Marion 18 (Young 9). Total fouls-Columbus State 21, Francis Marion 17. A-300
