FLORENCE, S.C. – Reserve guard Lauren Brittingham scored a game-high 21 points and Pfeiffer University connected on 13 of its first 19 field goal attempts as the Falcons coasted to an 82-60 non-conference win over Francis Marion University, Thursday evening (Jan. 4), handing the Patriot women their most lop-sided home loss in five seasons.
Brittingham hit 8-of-13 shots to lead Pfeiffer (8-2), while forward Raven Truslow added 16 points and six rebounds and Tamara Clay chipped in 14 points and handed out five assists.
Junior center Vanessa Goff led Francis Marion (3-9) with a career-high 14 points, but could not help the Patriots avoid their sixth consecutive loss. Junior guard Brittany Young tallied 12 points and four assists, while freshman forward Yasmean Dixon came off the FMU bench to score a career-high 11 points.
Pfeiffer trailed only once at 3-2 following a Young layup. The 13-of-19 start helped the Falcons to a 31-9 lead with nine minutes left in the first stanza. Pfeiffer led 47-21 at halftime, holding Francis Marion to only 19 field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes, while the Falcons made 19 shots (in 38 attempts).
Pfeiffer twice led by 37 points in the second half, the final time at 74-37 with 10:57 remaining. FMU outscored the Falcons 23-8 to end the game and trim the margin to 22 points.
The Falcons converted 37 FMU turnovers into 38 points and held a commanding 31-8 advantage in fast-break points.
Francis Marion will travel to the Atlanta area to face 17th-ranked Clayton State University, Saturday at 2 p.m., while Pfeiffer plays at Barton College on Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
At Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY 82, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 60
PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY (8-2)
Brittingham, Lauren 8-13 2-2 21; Truslow, Raven 8-13 0-0 16; Clay, Tamara
6-7 2-2 14; Athill, Ashelle 3-7 1-2 7; Purnell, Shanee' 3-8 1-2 7; Smith,
Kalee 1-3 5-5 7; Crenshaw, Ashley 3-6 0-0 6; Johnson, Sherry 1-4 0-0 2;
Maready, Nicole 1-2 0-0 2; Gaddy, Nikesha 0-3 0-0 0; Rutledge, Kendra 0-3
0-0 0; Kennings, Cathi 0-2 0-0 0; Trammell, Octavia 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 34-74
11-13 82.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (3-9)
Goff, Vanessa 6-9 2-6 14; Young, Brittany 6-13 0-0 12; Dixon, Yasmean 3-4
5-8 11; Quinlan, Chelsea 3-6 1-2 9; Downer, Shonelle 3-4 2-2 8; Mack,
Shavone 1-2 1-2 3; Marsh, Kirby 0-3 3-5 3; Cook, Erin 0-1 0-0 0; Guilliams,
Renee 0-5 0-0 0; Kiefer, Katherine 0-0 0-0 0; Preal, Shaketa 0-2 0-0 0.
Totals 22-49 14-25 60.
Halftime: Pfeiffer University 47 Francis Marion University 21.
3-point goals-Pfeiffer University 3-16 (Brittingham, Lauren 3-6; Truslow,
Raven 0-1; Clay, Tamara 0-1; Athill, Ashelle 0-1; Crenshaw, Ashley 0-3;
Johnson, Sherry 0-1; Gaddy, Nikesha 0-1; Kennings, Cathi 0-1; Trammell,
Octavia 0-1), Francis Marion University 2-11 (Quinlan, Chelsea 2-4; Young,
Brittany 0-1; Marsh, Kirby 0-2; Guilliams, Renee 0-4). Fouled out--Pfeiffer
University-None, Francis Marion University-None. Rebounds-Pfeiffer
University 37 (Truslow, Raven 6), Francis Marion University 34 (Guilliams,
Renee 6). Assists-Pfeiffer University 21 (Clay, Tamara 5), Francis Marion
University 13 (Young, Brittany 4). Total fouls-Pfeiffer University 22,
Francis Marion University 15. A-71
