Like Francis Marion Athletics on Facebook!

MARS HILL, NC - Three players scored in double-figures for Francis Marion University, but it wasn't enough as the Patriots were downed by Mars Hill College 77-58, Saturday evening (Nov. 19) on the second day of the Biltmore Farms/Mars Hill Classic, in Mars Hill, N.C.

The Patriots (0-2) were led in scoring by senior center T.T. Belcher's 12 points and she also added nine rebounds. Junior point guard Carmella Thompson racked up 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while junior guard Brittany Christian chipped in 10 points.

Five players from Mars Hill eclipsed the double-digit mark with Kristen Metcalf leading the way with 18, followed by 15 from Taylor Deal, 12 from Danielle Tucker, and 10 from both Ansley Ricker and Armeka Booker.

Francis Marion trailed the Lions by 11 early in the action, but chiseled the lead down to one (28-27) on a jumped by Belcher at the 6:03 mark of the first half.  The lead then ballooned to 37-29 at the halfway point. 

The closest FMU would get in the second half would be 10 points (43-33) at the 17:51 mark on a layup from Belcher.

Turnovers hurt FMU with the Patriots surrendering 33 points off the giveaways, including 19 points in the second stanza.  The Patriots turned the ball over 36 times in the contest, compared to 19 from the Lions.

Mars College also held the advantage shooting 39 percent from the field compared to 34 percent for FMU.  The Lions held the upper hand in three-point shooting at a 50 percent clip, while the Patriots struggled from beyond the arc at 20 percent.

Francis Marion is back in action on Tuesday (Nov.22) when the Patriots visit St. Andrews University with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.

11-19-11 5 p.m. at Mars Hill, N.C., Biltmore Farms/Mars Hill Classic

MARS HILL 77, FRANCIS MARION 58

FRANCIS MARION (0-2)
T.T. Belcher 4-11 4-4 12; Carmella Thompson 4-8 3-6 12; Brittany Christian
2-10 4-4 10; Simone Trice 4-6 0-2 8; Emilee Dunton 2-8 2-3 6; Daphne Walker
2-6 2-2 6; Kristen Dickerson 2-5 0-1 4; Jas. Williams-Hayes 0-1 0-1 0;
Danielle Gibson 0-3 0-0 0; Hattie Harris 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-59 15-23 58.
MARS HILL (3-1)
Metcalf, Kristen 5-9 4-4 18; Deal, Taylor 4-11 7-8 15; Tucker, Danielle 4-7
4-4 12; Booker, Armeka 4-10 2-2 10; Ricker, Ansley 4-14 0-0 10; Carlson,
Tyler 2-6 2-2 7; Westbrook, Amanda 1-1 0-0 3; Simon, Jackie 1-2 0-0 2;
Buckner, Katie 0-0 0-0 0; Assif, Sky 0-0 0-0 0; Ward, Autumn 0-2 0-0 0;
Warren, Erica 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 25-65 19-20 77.
Halftime: Mars Hill 37 Francis Marion 29
3-point goals--Francis Marion 3-15 (Brittany Christian 2-9; Carmella
Thompson 1-2; Emilee Dunton 0-4), Mars Hill 8-16 (Metcalf, Kristen 4-6;
Ricker, Ansley 2-7; Westbrook, Amanda 1-1; Carlson, Tyler 1-1; Ward, Autumn
0-1). Fouled out--Francis Marion-T.T. Belcher, Mars Hill-None.
Rebounds--Francis Marion 50 (Carmella Thompson 11), Mars Hill 36 (Deal,
Taylor 7). Assists--Francis Marion 9 (Carmella Thompson 3), Mars Hill 18
(Ricker, Ansley 7). Total fouls--Francis Marion 24, Mars Hill 22. Technical
fouls--Francis Marion-None, Mars Hill-None. A-310