FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University got 45 points from its reserves and the Patriots pulled away in the final half to claim an 84-68 Peach Belt Conference win over North Georgia College & State University, Monday evening (Dec. 15).

Francis Marion remains unbeaten (7-0) and wins its conference opener for the first time in seven seasons.  The Patriots, off to their best start since the 1998-99 season when FMU opened 9-0 and finished 27-3 en route to an appearance in the NCAA II Sweet 16, will now take a break for the Christmas holidays.  Francis Marion will play host to Allen University on Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Senior guard Kevina Ramson led the Patriot bench players with a season-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting.  She also handed out a game-high seven assists. Freshman center Dominique Powell and senior swing player Creshenda Singletary added 14 and 11 points off the bench, while starter Shannon Singleton-Bates tallied 15 points.

Junior forward Whitney Randolph led North Georgia (3-4, 0-1) with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Krystyn Young scored 16 points, and Syretha Marble 10.

Despite 13 first-half points from Randolph, Francis Marion owned a 37-28 advantage at halftime.

Although FMU never trailed in the second stanza, North Georgia trailed by only five at 59-54 with eight minutes remaining.  A layup and a free throw by Danelle Downs and two free throws by Jennifer Dyer upped the Patriot lead to 64-54 with 6:10 left.  Francis Marion gradually pulled away, with the final score being the largest lead of the contest.

The Patriots connected on 53.1 percent of their shots in the final half, while holding the Lady Saints to 38.1 percent.  FMU forced 35 North Georgia turnovers and held a 30-11 advantage in "points off turnovers."

12-15-08 5:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 84, NORTH GEORGIA COLL. & ST. UNIV 68

NORTH GEORGIA COLL. & ST. UNIV (3-4 , 0-1 PBC)
Randolph, Whitney 8-16 7-8 23; Young, Krystyn 3-4 8-8 16; Marble, Syretha
1-2 8-10 10; Cline, Ali 3-3 1-1 7; Baker, Brooke 1-5 1-4 4; Kitchens,
Lindsey 2-7 0-2 4; Brownlee, Stephanie 0-2 3-4 3; Montgomery, Meredith 0-8
1-2 1; Durham, Ari'Elle 0-0 0-0 0; Stokes, Alyssa 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-47
29-39 68.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (7-0 , 1-0 PBC)
Ransom, Kevina 7-8 2-2 16; Singleton-Bates, Sha 5-12 5-5 15; Powell,
Dominique 7-11 0-0 14; Singletary,Creshenda 4-9 2-2 11; Colbert, Robin 4-5
0-5 8; Dyer, Jennifer 2-9 2-2 7; Downs, Danelle 2-3 1-2 5; Franks, Shana 2-8
0-0 4; Fields, Eboni 1-5 0-0 3; Morgan, Shaquana 0-0 1-2 1; Kiefer,
Katherine 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-70 13-20 84.
Halftime: Francis Marion 37 North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ   28
3-point goals--North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ 3-14 (Young, Krystyn 2-2;
Baker, Brooke 1-4; Kitchens, Lindsey 0-2; Montgomery, Meredith 0-3; Marble,
Syretha 0-1; Randolph, Whitney 0-2), Francis Marion University 3-18 (Dyer,
Jennifer 1-4; Fields, Eboni 1-4; Singletary,Creshenda 1-4; Colbert, Robin
0-1; Franks, Shana 0-3; Singleton-Bates, Sha 0-2). Fouled out--North Georgia
Coll. & St. Univ-None, Francis Marion University-Colbert, Robin.
Rebounds--North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ 40 (Randolph, Whitney 11), Francis
Marion University 33 (Singletary,Creshenda 6; Colbert, Robin 6).
Assists--North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ 13 (Randolph, Whitney 5), Francis
Marion University 22 (Ransom, Kevina 7). Total fouls--North Georgia Coll. &
St. Univ 23, Francis Marion University 27. Technical fouls--North Georgia
Coll. & St. Univ-None, Francis Marion University-None. A-215

            Singletary