Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Francis Marion Patriots on Saturday afternoon in a 70-63 final score.

The Warriors shot 40.3% from the field in the loss.  Shelby Glance led the team with 15 points.  Glance was followed by Tristen Berry, Brittany Mack and Lonesha Lee with 10 points apiece.  Southern Wesleyan collected 11 assists in the game with Mack leading the team with three.   Both Berry and Kayla Garrett followed Mack with two assists each.

Southern Wesleyan collected 40 rebounds during the game.  Shelby Glance posted nine rebounds to lead the team.  Both Brittany Mack and Lonesha Lee posted six rebounds apiece.  Glance had the lone block of the afternoon.  The Warriors had seven steals in the game with Tristen Berry recording four of them.


 
Game Vitals

Final: Francis Marion 70, Southern Wesleyan 63

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-6 / CC 2-3) Francis Marion (4-5 / CC 3-4)


 
Coach Davis says…

"Tough loss for our team this afternoon.  We failed to execute on both ends in the fourth quarter.  Competing is always good, but we have to grow to understand how prepared we have to be to win games like this. The team is improving and we are taking slow strides at this time."


 
How It Happened

A foul early on allowed Lonesha Lee to score the first point of the game for the Warriors on a free throw to put Southern Wesleyan on top 1-0.  They pushed further ahead a minute later on a jump shot by Tristen Berry.  Francis Marion countered seconds later as Scarlett Gilmore laid the ball up in the paint to put them within one.  The Warriors were not discouraged as both Shelby Glance and Berry put up shots to give the Warriors a 7-2 point lead with just over seven minutes left.  A three pointer by Gilmore allowed the Patriots to remain within six of the Warriors, however the Warriors extended their lead to nine on a three pointer by Glance.  Jump shots by Brittany Mack and Berry put the Warriors ahead by ten.  The Patriots picked up the pace as Lauryn Taylor laid the ball up into the net to cut Southern Wesleyan's lead down to 18-12.

Francis Marion kicked off the second quarter with a jump shot by Kiana Lee and three pointer by Scarlett Gilmore to put the Patriots on top 22-18.  The Warriors countered with a jump shot by Lonesha Lee.  They continued to challenge as Brittany Mack passed the ball over to Shelby Glance who laid the ball up in the paint to tie the game back up at twenty-two points apiece.  Southern Wesleyan maintained the intensity as both Nakia Hooks and Lee laid the ball up into the basket to put the Warriors back on top 28-24.  A lay-up by Ke'onna Bryant allowed the Patriots to cut into the Warriors lead.  They continued to challenge the Warriors shots, but a layup by Caroline Reese allowed Southern Wesleyan to maintain their five point advantage.  A jump shot by Jasmine Stanley tied the game back up, but a last second jump shot by Shelby Glance put the Warriors on top 35-33 at the half.

The Warriors took the first points of the third quarter off free throw shots by Kayla Garrett and Brittany Mack.  Mack stole the ball away from the Patriots and laid the ball up to allow the Warriors to regain their seven point advantage.  Francis Marion cut into their lead on a layup by Jasmine Stanley, but a jump shot by Kayla Garrett and three pointer by Shelby Glance pushed Southern Wesleyan's lead to 45-36.  Jada Richards stepped beyond the arc and sunk a three to put the Patriots within six.  However, the Warriors countered seconds later as Tristen Berry passed the ball to Glance who stepped beyond the arc and sunk a three point shot.  The Patriots tied the game up on a three pointer by Richards and then took the lead on a layup by Aniyah Oliver.  Their lead was short lived as Kayla Garrett sunk a jump shot.  A late three by Sasha Schoenborn put the Warriors ahead right before the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter.

However, the Patriots kicked off the final quarter with a layup by Aniyah Oliver to put them ahead, but a layup by Lonesha Lee pushed the Warriors back on top.  The Warriors maintained their lead on a jump shot by Kayla Garrett.  Francis Marion would not let up as Kiana Lee took a pass from Oliver on a fast break to put the Patriots ahead 60-57.  The Warriors challenged back on a jump shot by Caroline Reese.  Francis Marion would not relent as Lee and Scarlett Gilmore put up shots to give the Patriots a five point advantage with just over three minutes left in the final quarter.  A layup in the paint by Brittany Mack kept the Warriors within five.  However, Francis Marion went on to win the game in a 70-63 final score.


 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on December 20 as they welcome the Barton Bulldogs to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium for a noon start time.  The Warriors will then break for the holiday season before returning to take on the Western Carolina Catamounts (December 31) and Furman Paladins (January 1) in exhibition play.  Southern Wesleyan will then return to Central, SC on January 4 as they resume Conference Carolinas action and host the Lees-McRae Bobcats at 5:30 p.m.