AMERICUS, GA – Georgia Southwestern State University took advantage of a cold shooting Francis Marion University squad, and aided by a 16-4 second-half run, the Hurricanes claimed a 72-63 win, Saturday afternoon (Dec. 17) in the Peach Belt Conference women's basketball opener for both teams.

Francis Marion drops to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the PBC.  The Patriots will close out their pre-Christmas schedule on Monday with a noon tip-off at Young Harris College.  The next home game for FMU will be Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. against Shaw University.

FMU junior forward Briana Burgins registered her second double-double of the season, and seventh of her career, with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals.  Freshman guard Abigail Bullock came off the Patriot bench to tally a career-high 15 points, while sophomore Shaunice Fulmore and junior Khai Chandler added 11 and 10 points respectively.

Francis Marion connected on less than 30 percent of its shots in both halfs and ended the game at 28.8 percent, including 3-of-12 from three-point range.

Brittany Grant led Georgia Southwestern (6-2, 1-0) with 14 points, while Chanice Whitton compiled 12 points and nine rebounds.

The first quarter ended with FMU holding an 11-9 advantage, although neither team led by more than one possession at any time.  In the second period, Francis Marion opened a 21-15 lead following a three-pointer by Chandler with 7:27 left.  The Hurricanes quickly responded with an 8-2 run to knot the score at 23-23.

A pair of free throws by Burgins and a Bullock lay-in pushed the Patriots back ahead 27-23.  However, GSW answered with a 10-1 spurt and eventually held a 33-30 lead at halftime.

Midway through the third quarter, Francis Marion rallied to tie the score at 41-41 on an inside hoop by Burgins. Two free throws by sophomore forward Lauryn Bush gave FMU a 50-49 advantage with 2:03 left, but the Hurricanes closed the period with a 9-2 run to go on top for good at 58-52.

GSW continued its spurt with a 7-2 start to open the final quarter, resulting in the largest lead of the contest at 65-54.  Four consecutive points by Bullock closed the gap to seven points at 65-58 with 4:43 remaining, but that would be as close as the Patriots would get.

The Hurricanes shot 44.6 percent from the field, including 2-of-7 from behind the arc, and were 20-of-28 at the free throw line.  FMU was 18-of-27 at the charity stripe.

Francis Marion did convert 26 Hurricane turnovers into 22 points, while the Patriots committed only 14 miscues.

12/17/16 1:30 PM at Americus, Ga.
GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN 72, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 63
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (4-4, 0-1 PBC)
Briana Burgins 6-13 5-8 17; Abigail Bullock 4-14 6-8 15; Shaunice Fulmore
4-14 3-4 11; Khai Chandler 4-16 0-2 10; Lauryn Bush 1-4 2-2 4; TeTe Flowers
2-5 0-0 4; Keanua Williams 0-3 2-2 2; Kristin Tines 0-3 0-1 0; Courtney Wood
0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-73 18-27 63.
GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN (6-2, 1-0 PBC)
Brittany Grant 3-4 7-7 14; Chanice Whitton 4-7 4-7 12; Aleah Holden 3-12 4-4
10; Mallory Diamond 4-7 0-0 9; Kya Cochran 2-3 3-4 7; Va'Queshia Hall 3-4
0-2 6; Whitney Young 2-5 1-2 5; Shanya Jones 1-1 1-2 3; Kris Beckham 1-9 0-0
2; Adrianne Brown 1-2 0-0 2; Khayla Owens 1-1 0-0 2; Gabby Figgers 0-1 0-0
0. Totals 25-56 20-28 72.
Francis Marion University.....   11   19   22   11  -   63
Georgia Southwestern..........    9   24   25   14  -   72
3-point goals--Francis Marion University 3-12 (Khai Chandler 2-6; Abigail
Bullock 1-5; Keanua Williams 0-1), Georgia Southwestern 2-7 (Brittany Grant
1-2; Mallory Diamond 1-1; Kris Beckham 0-3; Gabby Figgers 0-1). Fouled
out--Francis Marion University-Lauryn Bush; TeTe Flowers, Georgia
Southwestern-None. Rebounds--Francis Marion University 43 (Briana Burgins
10), Georgia Southwestern 49 (Aleah Holden 10). Assists--Francis Marion
University 6 (Kristin Tines 2; Abigail Bullock 2), Georgia Southwestern 18
(Kya Cochran 5). Total fouls--Francis Marion University 23, Georgia
Southwestern 23. Technical fouls--Abigail Bullock; FMU Team. A-215