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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – Junior guard Kristen Dickerson scored a career-high equaling 11 points for the second straight game and Francis Marion University recorded its best defensive outing in 26 seasons as the Patriots smothered Flagler College 54-31, Wednesday night (Jan. 11) in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball action.

The Patriots improve to 6-7 overall and 2-5 in the PBC with their fourth straight road victory. FMU will return to action on Monday evening with a 5:30 p.m. contest at North Georgia College & State University.

Following Dickerson, senior center T.T. Belcher tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots, while junior forward Daphne Walker registered nine points, five rebounds, and three assists in her return to the north Florida area.

The 31-points allowed was the fewest by a Francis Marion opponent since a 100-29 win over Voorhees College on Feb. 9, 1987.  The total was the best defensive effort for a Patriot team in Peach Belt play.

Taye'lor Trotter led Flagler (2-11, 1-6) with 11 points.

Belcher scored FMU's opening five points and the Patriots never trailed in the contest.  Flagler did manage to tie the score once at 7-7, but Francis Marion responded with 10 consecutive points – capped by a three-pointer from junior guard Ana Imani, who was making her first career start.  The Patriots played without the services of junior point guard Carmella Thompson who did not dress for the game.

A layup by Danielle Gibson stretched the FMU advantage to 13 points at 26-13, and the Patriots took a 28-15 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Baskets by Dickerson and Hattie Harris and a free throw by Belcher quickly extended the margin to 32-15 early in the second stanza.  Flagler trimmed the margin back to 13, at 39-26, following a bucket by Trotter with 9:27 left.  However, Francis Marion held the Saints without a field goal for the final nine minutes as the Saints missed their last nine field goal attempts.

FMU held Flagler to 23.3 percent shooting for the game and the Saints hit only 9-of-19 free throws.  Francis Marion also converted 28 Flagler turnovers into 27 points.  With a 51-35 rebounding advantage, FMU also led 22-4 in second-chance points.

1-11-12 5:30 p.m. at St. Augustine, Fla. (Flagler Gym)
FRANCIS MARION 54, FLAGLER 31

FRANCIS MARION (6-7, 2-5 PBC)
Kristen Dickerson 4-5 3-4 11; T.T. Belcher 3-8 4-7 10; Daphne Walker 4-7 1-2
9; Emilee Dunton 2-3 1-2 6; Ana Imani 1-3 2-2 5; Simone Trice 2-11 1-3 5;
Chelsey Johnson 1-4 2-4 4; Danielle Gibson 1-4 0-0 2; Hattie Harris 1-7 0-0
2; Brittany Christian 0-8 0-0 0. Totals 19-60 14-24 54.
FLAGLER (2-11, 1-6 PBC)
Taye'Lor Trotter 4-12 2-4 11; Charlsea Owen 2-9 0-0 5; Marie Taylor 1-2 2-2
4; Shelbi Lindsey 1-4 1-3 3; Jen Knurek 1-3 1-4 3; Rachel Brown 1-3 0-0 2;
Treva Mason 0-5 2-4 2; Shakia Roche 0-3 1-2 1; Latesha Johnson 0-2 0-0 0.
Totals 10-43 9-19 31.
Halftime: Francis Marion 28 Flagler 15
3-point goals--Francis Marion 2-7 (Emilee Dunton 1-1; Ana Imani 1-1; Simone
Trice 0-1; Hattie Harris 0-1; Brittany Christian 0-3), Flagler 2-11
(Taye'Lor Trotter 1-6; Charlsea Owen 1-3; Shelbi Lindsey 0-2). Fouled
out--Francis Marion-None, Flagler-Treva Mason. Rebounds--Francis Marion 51
(Simone Trice 8; T.T. Belcher 8), Flagler 35 (Treva Mason 12).
Assists--Francis Marion 11 (Daphne Walker 3; Hattie Harris 3), Flagler 8
(Treva Mason 2; Latesha Johnson 2; Taye'Lor Trotter 2). Total fouls--Francis
Marion 15, Flagler 18. Technical fouls--None. A-76