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GREENWOOD, SC – Despite a 16-point career-high performance off the bench from junior guard Kristen Dickerson, Francis Marion University lost at 19th-ranked Lander University 96-62, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4) in Peach Belt Conference women's action.

The Patriots return home for a non-conference tilt against Morris College on Wednesday (Feb. 8) with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.

The Patriots (6-14, 2-11) stayed close with the Lady Bearcats (17-3, 12-0) until the midway point of the first half when Lander scored 20 unanswered points, including the final 17 points of the first half, to break the game open.  Lander led 53-22 at halftime.

Lander was led by Mukia Myrick's 22 points and Ciara Lyons' double-double of 18 points and 12 assists.

Dickerson just returned to the Patriots after missing four games with a concussion. She connected on 8-of-17 shots and also handed out four assists.  FMU senior center T.T. Belcher scored eight points and grabbed a season-high tying 16 rebounds. Sophomore guard Brittany Christian, freshman forward Chelsey Johnson, and junior Jasmine Williams-Hayes also scored eight points apiece.

Francis Marion did cut into the Lander lead a bit by going on a 16-4 run in the second half, including six points by Jasmine Williams-Hayes and a pair of layups by Dickerson, to pull within 74-51 at the 6:23 mark.

FMU connected on 26-of-67 shots (38.8 percent), 6-of-8 eight free throws (75 percent), and 4-of-16 from behind the arc (25 percent).

The Lady Bearcats made 34-of-74 shots from the floor (45.9 percent), 16-of-23 free throws (69.6 percent), and 12-of-28 from three-point range (42.9 percent).

Lander had a 44-41 edge on the boards and converted 22 Patriots turnovers into 30 points.

2-4-12 1:30 pm at Horne Arena, Greenwood, S.C.
#19 LANDER UNIVERSITY 96, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 62

FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (6-14, 2-11 PBC)
Kristen Dickerson 8-17 0-0 16; Brittany Christian 3-13 0-0 8; T.T. Belcher
3-6 2-2 8; Jas. Williams-Hayes 3-5 2-3 8; Chelsey Johnson 3-9 2-2 8;
Carmella Thompson 2-5 0-1 5; Simone Trice 2-6 0-0 4; Emilee Dunton 1-4 0-0
3; Danielle Gibson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-67 6-8 62.
LANDER UNIVERSITY (17-3, 12-0 PBC)
Mukia Myrick 7-16 4-6 22; Ciara Lyons 7-14 3-4 18; Brittni Johnson 4-11 5-8
16; Kaylyn Small 8-13 0-0 16; Jasmine Judge 4-8 0-0 12; Janyce Ealey 2-6 4-5
8; Keondra Barnes 1-1 0-0 2; Rachelle Rasley 1-4 0-0 2; Ashley Watts 0-0 0-0
0; Precious Elkins 0-0 0-0 0; Kami Phillips 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-74 16-23 96.
Halftime: Lander 53 Francis Marion  22
3-point goals--Francis Marion University 4-16 (Brittany Christian 2-9;
Carmella Thompson 1-1; Emilee Dunton 1-4; Chelsey Johnson 0-1; Kristen
Dickerson 0-1), Lander University 12-28 (Jasmine Judge 4-8; Mukia Myrick
4-10; Brittni Johnson 3-7; Ciara Lyons 1-2; Rachelle Rasley 0-1). Fouled
out--Francis Marion University-None, Lander University-None.
Rebounds--Francis Marion University 41 (T.T. Belcher 16), Lander University
44 (Kaylyn Small 8). Assists--Francis Marion University 17 (Carmella
Thompson 6), Lander University 29 (Ciara Lyons 12). Total fouls--Francis
Marion University 14, Lander University 13. Technical fouls--None. A-1375