MILLEDGEVILLE, GA – Francis Marion University staged a furious rally over the final five minutes, but could not overcome a large second-half deficit and fell 76-70 to Georgia College, Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31) in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball action.

FMU (6-15, 3-9) will play at Lander University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Freshman Briana Burgins led Francis Marion with 13 points and eight rebounds, while freshmen Mariah Johnson and Khayani Chandler each scored 10 points.  Senior guard Cy'erra Mills added nine points.

Shanteona Keys led Georgia College (10-9, 6-6) with 28 points and five rebounds.

Holding a narrow 23-22 in the first half, the Bobcats scored seven straight points to start an 18-4 run to close the first half. Georgia College led 41-26 at intermission.

Georgia College extended its advantage to 50-28 early in the second stanza, and later to 54-31 after a layup by Larice Walker with 15:15 remaining.

The Bobcats maintained a 20-point margin, 70-50, with 4:52 left when FMU began its late rally. Francis Marion scored 14 consecutive points – five by freshman center Courtney Wood – to trim the deficit to 70-64 with 41 seconds left.

A three-pointer by Chandler further cut the lead to 72-67 with 32 ticks remaining, but the Bobcats made four straight free throws to seal the win.

The Patriots connected on 38.1 percent of their field goal attempts, including 9-of-23 three-point shots, and were 13-of-17 at the foul line.  Georgia College shot 50 percent from the floor, including 8-of-18 from beyond the arc, and was 18-of-21 at the free throw line.

FMU committed only 12 turnovers and converted 16 Bobcat miscues into 20 points.

1-31-15 1:30 p.m. at Milledgeville, Ga. (Centennial Center)
GEORGIA COLLEGE 76, FRANCIS MARION 70
FRANCIS MARION (6-15, 3-9 PBC)
Briana Burgins 3-5 7-9 13; Mariah Johnson 4-8 0-0 10; Khayani Chandler 3-12
2-2 10; Cy'erra Mills 3-7 1-2 9; Alaysia Watts 3-6 0-0 7; Courtney Wood 3-4
1-2 7; Emily Green 1-5 2-2 5; Danielle Pray 2-7 0-0 5; Camille Dash 1-4 0-0
2; Stephanie Brown 1-4 0-0 2; De'Ana Turner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 13-17
70.
GEORGIA COLLEGE (10-9, 6-6 PBC)
Shanteona Keys 8-16 6-6 28; LaRice Walker 3-4 9-9 15; Enisha Donley 6-8 2-4
14; McKenna Rushton 3-3 0-0 7; Kayla Upchurch 1-5 1-2 4; Belinda Schaafsma
2-3 0-0 4; Lindsey Reed 1-6 0-0 2; Christina Thomas 1-1 0-0 2; Alyah McGriff
0-3 0-0 0; Kadesha Gibbs 0-1 0-0 0; Jayla Waller 0-0 0-0 0; Alexia Manning
0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-50 18-21 76.
Halftime: Georgia College 41 Francis Marion 26
3-point goals--Francis Marion 9-23 (Mariah Johnson 2-6; Khayani Chandler
2-6; Cy'erra Mills 2-3; Danielle Pray 1-2; Alaysia Watts 1-1; Emily Green
1-5), Georgia College 8-18 (Shanteona Keys 6-12; Kayla Upchurch 1-3; McKenna
Rushton 1-1; Lindsey Reed 0-1; LaRice Walker 0-1). Fouled out--Francis
Marion-None, Georgia College-None. Rebounds--Francis Marion 31 (Briana
Burgins 8), Georgia College 34 (Enisha Donley 10). Assists--Francis Marion
14 (Danielle Pray 4), Georgia College 20 (Shanteona Keys 5). Total
fouls--Francis Marion 18, Georgia College 10. Technical fouls--Francis
Marion-TEAM, Georgia College-Lindsey Reed. A-389