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FLORENCE, S.C. – Sophomore guard Brittany Christian scored 19 of her 22 points in the second half, but a late Francis Marion University rally fell just short as the Patriots lost to Flagler College 63-58, Saturday night (Feb. 18) in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball action.

The loss spoiled a Homecoming for Francis Marion (8-16, 3-13) that saw former four-time All-American Tracey Tillman Young inducted into the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Christian hit on 6-of-13 three-point attempts.  Senior 5-11 center T.T. Belcher registered 10 points and nine rebounds – just missing her third double-double of the season – while junior guard Kristen Dickerson tallied nine points and six assists.

Sophomore forward Shelbi Lindsey led Flagler (3-20, 2-14) with 20 points, eight rebounds, and six steals, while senior guard Charlsea Owen chipped in 15 points.

Francis Marion raced to an early 21-10 advantage following an offensive stick-back by sophomore guard Emilee Dunton with 5:54 left before halftime.  However, the Saints outscored FMU 19-4 over the final 5:38 of the stanza to take a 29-25 lead into the locker room at intermission.

A three-pointer by Christian at the 17:55 mark of the second half cut the margin to one at 31-30.  It would be more than eleven-and-a-half minutes before the Patriot would make another basket – a span of 14 consecutive misses – as the Saints built a 52-33 lead.  Another three-pointer by Christian snapped the string and started a late rally.

That 15-2 run by Francis Marion trimmed the lead to 54-48 after a fast-break lay-up by Christian with 3:02 remaining.  On the ensuing possession, Owen drained a three-pointer to push the margin back to nine.

A layup by Dickerson with 24 ticks remaining cut the deficit to four at 59-55.  Jen Knurek converted a pair of free throws to lengthen the lead to 61-55, but Christian answered with another three-pointer to bring FMU to within 61-58 with 14 seconds left.

A free throw by Latesha Johnson with :12 on the clock sealed the win for the Saints.

Francis Marion shot 32.3 percent for the game, including 6-of-27 from beyond the three-point arc, while Flagler connected on 38.5 percent and 6-of-13 from long range.  The Saints were 17-of-24 at the foul line compared to FMU's 10-of-17.

The Patriots held a 40-39 rebounding advantage and forced seven more turnovers than they committed.

2-18-12 1:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FLAGLER 63, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 58

FLAGLER (3-20, 2-14 PBC)
Shelbi Lindsey 7-16 3-5 20; Charlsea Owen 6-13 0-0 15; Rachel Brown 3-7 2-2
8; Jen Knurek 2-5 4-4 8; Latesha Johnson 2-8 3-6 7; Treva Mason 0-3 5-7 5;
Ashley Crider 0-0 0-0 0; Marie Taylor 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 17-24 63.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (8-16, 3-13 PBC)
Brittany Christian 8-15 0-0 22; T.T. Belcher 5-10 0-0 10; Kristen Dickerson
4-8 1-2 9; Simone Trice 1-9 5-6 7; Chelsey Johnson 1-6 2-4 4; Emilee Dunton
1-4 0-0 2; Jas. Williams-Hayes 1-2 0-0 2; Carmella Thompson 0-8 2-5 2;
Daphne Walker 0-1 0-0 0; Hattie Harris 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-65 10-17 58.
Halftime: Flagler 29 Francis Marion 25
3-point goals--Flagler 6-13 (Shelbi Lindsey 3-7; Charlsea Owen 3-6), Francis
Marion University 6-27 (Brittany Christian 6-13; Kristen Dickerson 0-1;
Simone Trice 0-4; Emilee Dunton 0-3; Carmella Thompson 0-5; Hattie Harris
0-1). Fouled out--Flagler-None, Francis Marion University-T.T. Belcher.
Rebounds--Flagler 39 (Shelbi Lindsey 8), Francis Marion University 40 (T.T.
Belcher 9). Assists--Flagler 14 (Latesha Johnson 5), Francis Marion
University 18 (Carmella Thompson 8). Total fouls--Flagler 18, Francis Marion
University 20. Technical fouls--None. A-1109