Dahlonega, Ga. (Feb. 16, 2014) – The University of North Georgia finished the game on an 8-3 run to seal a 78-71 victory over Francis Marion University, Sunday afternoon in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball action.

The Patriots drop to 11-11 overall and 6-10 in PBC play. FMU will wrap-up the regular season with a four-game homestand starting Wednesday night against Flagler College. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

Junior forward Alexia Bell led the Patriots with 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Briana Robinson chipped in 13 points and five rebounds, while sophomore guard Camille Dash added 11 points and four steals.

North Georgia (18-4, 12-3), ranked 23rd in the latest NCAA Division II poll, was led by Mimi Hill and Stephanie Huffman who both recorded double-doubles. Hill led all scorers with 28 points, while pulling down 17 rebounds. Huffman finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

The Patriots jumped out to a 14-3 lead six minutes into the game, marking the largest lead of the contest for either team. After the Nighthawks tied the game at 20-20 with 8:04 to play in the opening half, both teams traded the lead six times before a quick 6-0 spurt put the Patriots ahead by five points with 10 seconds to play before halftime. However, Huffman hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 37-35 at the break.

FMU opened the second half on another 6-0 run, and increased the lead to 43-35, its largest advantage of the second half.  With the game tied at 51-51, UNG would go on a 9-2 run to put its lead at 60-53 with 10:44 showing on the clock.

The Patriots would keep the Nighthawk lead within six points for the next eight minutes, and trailed 70-68 with 2:53 to play in the game. After a made free throw by Helena Pouengue, FMU senior Dee Gray missed a jump shot, but Bell collected the offensive board and drew a foul. However, she missed both free throws that would have put the Patriots back within a point of the lead.

Trailing 73-69 with one minute remaining in the contest, UNG scored on a layup by Huffman, and then FMU missed a jumper on its next possession that sealed the victory for the Nighthawks. Chelsea Dukes converted two free throws with 19 seconds to play to put the final margin at 78-71.

Francis Marion held a 26-20 advantage in points-in-the-paint, but was outrebounded 44-28. The Patriots held a narrow advantage in shooting percentage at 43 percent to 42 percent by the Nighthawks, and forced 19 UNG turnovers.   

2-16-14 1:30 PM at Memorial Hall - Dahlonega, Ga.
#23 NORTH GEORGIA 78, FRANCIS MARION UNIV. 71
FRANCIS MARION UNIV. (11-11, 6-10 PBC)
Alexia Bell 5-10 5-9 15; Briana Robinson 5-8 3-3 13; Camille Dash 5-13 1-1
11; Cy'erra Mills 3-4 2-2 9; Dee Gray 4-10 0-0 8; Chelsea Dukes 1-6 5-6 7;
Kim Roach 1-3 3-4 5; Erin Pinkett 1-4 0-0 3; Lauren Woods 0-0 0-0 0. Totals
25-58 19-25 71.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA (18-4, 12-3 PBC)
Mimi Hill 9-18 10-11 28; Stephanie Huffman 10-15 4-4 25; Jordan Livesay 3-8
4-4 12; Lauren Pounds 1-5 3-3 5; Molly Rainwater 1-7 0-0 3; Helena Pouengue
1-2 1-2 3; Cierra Jackson 0-3 2-2 2; Kaylee Akin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-59
24-26 78.
Halftime: Francis Marion 37 North Georgia 35
3-point goals--Francis Marion Univ. 2-8 (Erin Pinkett 1-4; Cy'erra Mills
1-2; Camille Dash 0-1; Chelsea Dukes 0-1), University of North Georgia 4-19
(Jordan Livesay 2-6; Molly Rainwater 1-7; Stephanie Huffman 1-2; Cierra
Jackson 0-1; Kaylee Akin 0-1; Helena Pouengue 0-1; Lauren Pounds 0-1).
Fouled out--Francis Marion Univ.-Alexia Bell, University of North
Georgia-Mimi Hill. Rebounds--Francis Marion Univ. 28 (Alexia Bell 7),
University of North Georgia 44 (Mimi Hill 17). Assists--Francis Marion Univ.
11 (Briana Robinson 5), University of North Georgia 16 (Jordan Livesay 4).
Total fouls--Francis Marion Univ. 24, University of North Georgia 20.
Technical fouls--None. A-358