Florence, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Francis Marion Patriots on the road on Monday evening in a 73-51 final score.
The Warriors shot 35.7% from the field. Makayla Raines led the Warriors with 11 points. Right behind her, sophomore Peyton Looky put up 10 points in the game. Savanna Nicholson and Emily Gamon each had eight points. Of the 13 assists, Looky led the team with five.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 31 rebounds during the game. Kyra Price led the Warriors with six rebounds while DeYana Hayes followed behind her with five. Hayes went on to have the lone block of the game for the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan stole the ball away from Francis Marion 11 times throughout the game. Emily Gamon led the team with four steals with Peyton Looky right behind her with three.
Game Vitals
Final: Francis Marion 73, Southern Wesleyan 51
Records: Southern Wesleyan (6-21 / CC 4-15) Francis Marion (19-8 / CC 16-3)
How It Happened
The Patriots were first on the board as Uriah Jennings laid the ball up into the basket. Terriana Gray and Mariana Moody each got up layups to extend Francis Marion's lead to six before Makayla Raines drove to the basket and put up a layup to put the Warriors on the board. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as Raines got the ball under the basket to Emily Gamon. Gamon laid the ball up into the basket. With just under four minutes on the clock, Peyton Looky put up a layup to put Southern Wesleyan within two points of Francis Marion. Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Raines got up another layup to tie the game up at thirteen at the end of the first quarter.
Southern Wesleyan continued to attack the net as Emily Gamon fired off a shot from beyond the arc to give the Warriors their first lead of the game. Francis Marion answered with a mid-range shot by Kiara Croskey. DeYana Hayes passed the ball out to Savanna Nicholson. Nicholson took a step over the arc and knocked down a three pointer to extend the Warriors lead to six with just under eight minutes on the clock. The Patriots would not back down as a layup by Mariana Moody put them back within one. Nicholson hit another three pointer. However, the Patriots would not relent as they were able to tie the game back up with just over three minutes on the clock with a shot by Terriana Gray. A series of fouls by the Warriors allowed the Patriots to regain the lead off several free throw shots. The Patriots led 35-26 at halftime.
Francis Marion continued to extend on their lead in the third quarter as Kiara Croskey stole the ball away from the Warriors and went coast-to-coast to lay the ball up into the basket. Danielle Earley laid the ball up into the basket. The Patriots continued to push ahead, but Jordan Race knocked down a three pointer to keep the Warriors within striking distance. Peyton Looky passed the ball down the court to Makayla Raines. Raines fired off a deep shot from beyond the arc to put the Warriors back within ten. Jaliyah Benefield, Mariana Moody and Kiara Croskey each put up shots for Francis Marion to extend their lead to 50-34.
A three pointer out of the hands of Jordan Mintz allowed Francis Marion to extend their lead to twenty-two early in the final quarter of the game. Southern Wesleyan put up a fight as both Danielle Earley and Kyra Price got up baskets. With just over four minutes left in the quarter, Jaliyah Benefield got up a layup. The Warriors answered as Peyton Looky knocked down a three pointer off a pass from Makayla Raines. Emily Gamon was fouled as she was laying the ball up into the basket to earn the and-one basket. However, Francis Marion would not back down as they won the game in a 73-51 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on February 25 as they travel to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Emmanuel Lions.
