FLORENCE, SC - Reserve guard Eboni Fields scored 19 points to lead five Patriots in double figures as Francis Marion University beat a short-handed Allen University squad 104-35, Tuesday evening (Dec. 30) in non-conference women's basketball action.

Francis Marion (8-0) scored the game's opening 26 points en route to a 59-8 halftime lead.  The Patriots held Allen to only one made field goal in the first 20 minutes.  The Yellow Jackets were 1-of-19 from the field in the opening half, while committing 25 turnovers.

Allen, which dressed only six players for the contest, drops to 1-9.  Sophomore guard Brittney Jones led Allen with 19 points, including an 11-of-11 night at the free throw line.

Fields connected on 5-of-6 shots from beyond the three-point arc.  Following her for Francis Marion was junior guard Shana Franks with 18 points, seniors Creshenda Singletary and Shaquana Morgan with 12 each, and senior Katherine Kiefer with 10.  Morgan also handed out a game-high seven assists and recorded six steals as no Patriot played more than 16 minutes.

For the game, FMU forced 44 Allen miscues and held a 65-5 advantage in points-off-turnovers.

FMU returns to Peach Belt Conference action this weekend as the Patriots play at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Ga., on Saturday at 2 p.m.  That contest begins a three-game road trip in PBC play to open the New Year.

Francis Marion continues its best start since the 1998-99 squad won its first nine contests and finished 27-3 en route to an appearance in the NCAA II Sweet 16.  The Patriots, who lead the nation in scoring offense, crack the century barrier for the fifth time this season.

12-30-08 7:30 pm at Florence, SC
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 104, ALLEN UNIVERSITY 35

ALLEN UNIVERSITY (1-9)
Brittney Jones 4-17 11-11 19; LeRonna Drayton 3-12 0-0 7; Jessica Rice 2-5
0-1 4; Brittney Fontenot 2-7 0-0 4; Courtney Sims 0-4 1-4 1; Andria Mack 0-2
0-0 0. Totals 11-47 12-16 35.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (8-0)
Fields, Eboni 6-9 2-2 19; Franks, Shana 7-10 4-4 18; Singletary,Creshenda
6-7 0-0 12; Morgan, Shaquana 6-8 0-0 12; Kiefer, Katherine 4-7 2-2 10; Ruff,
Evelyn 3-9 0-0 7; Wheatland, Keahna 3-5 0-0 6; Downs, Danelle 2-7 2-6 6;
Singleton-Bates, Sha 2-7 0-0 4; Ransom, Kevina 2-3 0-0 4; Dyer, Jennifer 1-6
0-0 3; Colbert, Robin 0-3 2-2 2; Howze, Tenisha 0-3 1-2 1; Powell, Dominique
0-1 0-0 0. Totals 42-85 13-18 104.
Halftime: Francis Marion 59 Allen University 8
3-point goals--Allen University 1-8 (LeRonna Drayton 1-3; Jessica Rice 0-1;
Brittney Fontenot 0-1; Courtney Sims 0-1; Brittney Jones 0-2), Francis
Marion University 7-17 (Fields, Eboni 5-6; Dyer, Jennifer 1-4; Ruff, Evelyn
1-2; Kiefer, Katherine 0-1; Ransom, Kevina 0-1; Colbert, Robin 0-1; Franks,
Shana 0-2). Fouled out--Allen University-None, Francis Marion
University-None. Rebounds--Allen University 32 (Jessica Rice 7), Francis
Marion University 50 (Howze, Tenisha 8; Singleton-Bates, Sha 8).
Assists--Allen University 8 (Courtney Sims 6), Francis Marion University 26
(Morgan, Shaquana 7). Total fouls--Allen University 12, Francis Marion
University 12. Technical fouls--Allen University-None, Francis Marion
University-None. A-314