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FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University sophomore Brittany Christian saw her game-tying three-point attempt miss just off the right-side of the rim as time expired allowing Lander University to escape with a 54-51 win, Wednesday night (Nov. 30) in each team's Peach Belt Conference opener at the Smith University Center.

Francis Marion (2-3, 0-1) was led by senior center T.T. Belcher's double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore guard Emilee Dunton dropped in 11 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Junior point guard Carmella Thompson tallied seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals before fouling out.

The Patriots fell behind early by eight points (10-2) at the 16:12 mark of the first half after a Bearcat (3-2, 1-0) three-pointer from Jasmine Judge.  FMU chipped away at the lead, and eventually gained the advantage, 19-18, on a three-point bucket by Dunton at the 11:36 mark.  All of Dunton's 11 points came in the first-half.

Christian stretched the FMU lead to six, 24-18, at 9:13 in the first-half, the Patriots' largest of the game.  The Bearcats stormed back to even up the contest 33-33 at the intermission. 

Lander took advantage of a cold shooting second-half from Francis Marion as the Patriots shot just 29.6 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes. FMU did not score for a span of 8:48 starting late in the first half and stretching past the first media timeout of the second stanza.

The Bearcats pumped their lead to seven at 52-45 with 1:07 left on a three-point bucket by Janyce Ealey. 

Francis Marion shaved the lead back down to three, thanks to a pair of conversions off offensive rebounds from Belcher and Christian. FMU had the ball with a chance to tie with five seconds left thanks to a pair of missed free throws from Mukia Myrick before Christian missed at the buzzer.

Myrick paced the Bearcats with 12 points and six rebounds, while Ealey tacked on 11 points and four rebounds.

FMU held a 46-31 rebounding advantage, but Lander converted 23 Francis Marion turnovers into 16 points.

FMU is back in action on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 3) as it hosts Augusta State University in the Smith University Center with tip-off at 1:30 pm.

11-30-11 5:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
LANDER UNIVERSITY 54, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 51

LANDER UNIVERSITY (3-2 , 1-0 PBC)
Mukia Myrick 4-11 3-6 12; Janyce Ealey 5-8 0-0 11; Jasmine Judge 3-7 0-0 9;
Ciara Lyons 3-10 2-4 8; Kaylyn Small 1-3 3-4 5; Keondra Barnes 0-2 3-4 3;
Precious Elkins 1-3 0-1 2; Rachelle Rasley 1-1 0-0 2; Brittni Johnson 1-7
0-1 2; Kami Phillips 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 11-20 54.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (2-3 , 0-1 PBC)
T.T. Belcher 5-11 2-3 12; Emilee Dunton 3-8 2-2 11; Danielle Gibson 3-6 3-4
9; Brittany Christian 2-9 0-0 5; Chelsey Johnson 2-2 0-0 4; Simone Trice 2-6
0-0 4; Carmella Thompson 1-5 0-0 2; Daphne Walker 1-5 0-2 2; Hattie Harris
1-4 0-0 2; Kristen Dickerson 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 20-59 7-11 51.
Halftime: 33-33
3-point goals--Lander University 5-18 (Jasmine Judge 3-7; Janyce Ealey 1-1;
Mukia Myrick 1-6; Brittni Johnson 0-3; Kami Phillips 0-1), Francis Marion
University 4-15 (Emilee Dunton 3-4; Brittany Christian 1-6; Carmella
Thompson 0-3; Hattie Harris 0-1; Kristen Dickerson 0-1). Fouled out--Lander
University-None, Francis Marion University-Carmella Thompson.
Rebounds--Lander University 31 (Kaylyn Small 8), Francis Marion University
46 (T.T. Belcher 12). Assists--Lander University 14 (Mukia Myrick 4; Brittni
Johnson 4), Francis Marion University 13 (Carmella Thompson 6). Total
fouls--Lander University 17, Francis Marion University 18. Technical
fouls--None. A-703