Pembroke, NC – Southern Wesleyan dropped a heartbreaker to the UNC Pembroke Braves on Friday evening in a 67-64 final score.
 
The Warriors shot 35.8% from the field and were 88.9% from the free throw line.  Brittany Mack led the team with 17 points, and went 6-6 from the free throw line.  Behind Mack, Tristen Berry recorded 13 points and went 3-3 from the beyond the arc.  Southern Wesleyan had 14 assists with Brooke Henricks leading the team with five.
 
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 37 rebounds during the loss.  Both Brittany Mack and Kayla Garrett led the team with seven rebounds apiece.  Brooke Henricks had the lone block of the evening.  Of the four steals the Warriors recorded during the game, Henricks had two.
 
 
 
Game Vitals
 
Final: UNC Pembroke 67, Southern Wesleyan 64
 
Records: Southern Wesleyan (4-16 /CC 3-13) UNC Pembroke (14-8 / CC 12-6)
 
 
 
How It Happened
 
Southern Wesleyan charged out of the gate as Tristen Berry put up a three point shot from beyond the arc to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead.  They continued to push ahead as Nakia Hooks laid the ball up into the basket.  Southern Wesleyan continued to keep UNC Pembroke off the board until five minutes had expired in the quarter when a layup by Gabby Smith fell into the net and put them down four points to the Warriors.  Caroline Reese stepped beyond the three point line to extend the Warriors lead to seven points.  UNC Pembroke challenged back, but a three point shot by Sasha Schoenborn put the Warriors lead to 12-7.
 
The Warriors continue to extend their lead in the second quarter as Brooke Henricks made a three point shot.  The Braves countered with baskets by Zaria Clark to put UNC Pembroke within six.  They continued to cut into Southern Wesleyan's lead with baskets by Courtney Smith.  However, the Warriors pressed ahead with three point baskets by Allie Newberry and Caroline Reese.  Southern Wesleyan led UNC Pembroke 27-22 at halftime.
 
A foul early on allowed the Braves' own Alcenia Purnell to take free throw shots to put them behind Southern Wesleyan by three.  The Warriors remained ahead as Tristen Berry made a three point basket off a pass from Nakia Hooks to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 30-26.  The Braves tied the game up on a layup by Courtney Smith.  However, the tie was shot lived as Caroline Reese sunk a three point shot and Kayla Garrett laid the ball up into the basket.  UNC Pembroke continued to challenge as a three pointer by Purnell put the Braves on top by two.  Southern Wesleyan fought back as back-to-back three point shots by Brittany Mack and Tristen Berry put the Warriors ahead 43-39.
 
Nakia Hooks kicked off the fourth quarter with a layup to give the Warriors a six point lead.  They continued to push ahead as a layup by Brittany Mack allowed Southern Wesleyan to extend their lead to ten points.  Alcenia Purnell collected the ball from beyond the arc and made a three point shot to allow the Braves to come within nine points of the Warriors.  However, a layup by Hooks allowed the Warriors to maintain their six point lead.  Back-to-back three point shots by Courtney Smith allowed the Braves to tie the game up.  Despite a late layup by Brittany Mack, the Braves claimed a 67-64 point victory.
 
 
 
What's Next
 
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on February 12 as they travel to Murfreesboro, NC to take on the Chowan Hawks at 2 p.m.  They will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on February 14 as they welcome the University of Mount Olive Trojans to Central, SC for a 3 p.m. tip-off.  They will then host the Emmanuel Lions on February 16.