FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University's Shaunice Fulmore and Briana Burgins combined for 39 points and 19 rebounds, but 17th-ranked University of North Georgia outscored the Patriots 16-8 in the final quarter to rally for a 63-59 Peach Belt Conference win, Saturday afternoon (Jan. 14) in women's basketball action.

FMU (7-9, 2-5) will play host to 24th-ranked Columbus State University on Monday at 1:30 p.m. as part of an MLK Day twinbill.  It will mark the third nationally ranked opponent for the Patriots in their past five games.

Fulmore scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high equaling 10 rebounds to post her third career double-double.  She connected on 10-of-18 shots.  Burgins scored 19 and corralled nine caroms.

Amber Skidgel led UNG (13-2, 5-1) with 20 points, while Kelsey Hutchins added 17 points.

North Georgia snapped a 2-2 deadlock with a 6-0 spurt and eventually led 25-11 late in the first quarter.  The Patriots answered with an 12-0 run that began in the opening period and carried over into the second quarter that trimmed the deficit to 25-23.

Patriot junior center Kristin Tines made 1-of-2 free throws in the final minute of the first half to bring FMU to within 31-30 at halftime.

A three-point play to open the third period by senior point guard TeTe Flowers gave the Patriots their first lead since the game's opening minute.  A modest 5-0 spurt by FMU broke a 43-43 deadlock later in the quarter and helped the Patriots gain a 51-47 lead heading into the fourth period.

A jumper by Fulmore with 8:59 left gave Francis Marion its largest lead at 53-47, but the Patriots would connect on only three of their final 18 shots.  A quick 7-0 spurt by the Nighthawks erased the FMU lead.  A lay-in by Flowers put Francis Marion up 55-54 with 5:48 remaining, but North Georgia took the lead for good with a pair of baskets in the paint by Hutchins.

Trailing 61-59 in the final 30 seconds, Francis Marion missed a pair of free throws, gained the offensive rebound, and then missed a mid-range jump shot before Hutchins sealed the win with two freebies at the foul line.

FMU shot 30 percent from the floor, but failed to connect on any of its 12 three-point attempts.  This followed Wednesday's contest at USCA where the Patriots nailed nine shots from beyond the arc.  North Georgia connected on 42.3 percent of its shots.

The Patriots did force 25 North Georgia turnovers and held a 29-12 advantage in points-off-turnovers.

1/14/17 1:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
U. OF NORTH GEORGIA 63, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 59
U. OF NORTH GEORGIA (#17 13-2 , 5-1)
Amber Skidgel 8-11 2-3 20; Kelsey Hutchins 5-12 7-7 17; Maddie Hetzel 4-7
1-2 9; Deana Blankinship 2-5 2-2 6; Jazmin Smith 1-2 3-4 5; Jordan Livesay
1-8 0-0 3; Mackenzie Darrah 1-3 1-2 3; Alli Jones 0-0 0-0 0; Riley Slaton
0-0 0-0 0; Julie McKie 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 16-20 63.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (7-9 , 2-5 PBC)
Shaunice Fulmore 10-18 0-1 20; Briana Burgins 6-15 7-7 19; Khai Chandler
2-19 3-8 7; TeTe Flowers 2-11 2-5 6; Kristin Tines 1-2 2-6 4; Abigail
Bullock 0-3 3-4 3; Tatyana McClaney 0-0 0-0 0; Keanua Williams 0-2 0-0 0.
Totals 21-70 17-31 59.
U. of North Georgia...........      25    6   16   16  -   63
Francis Marion University.....   15   15   21    8  -   59
3-point goals--U. of North Georgia 3-11 (Amber Skidgel 2-3; Jordan Livesay
1-5; Maddie Hetzel 0-2; Julie McKie 0-1), Francis Marion University 0-12
(Shaunice Fulmore 0-1; Briana Burgins 0-1; Khai Chandler 0-6; TeTe Flowers
0-2; Abigail Bullock 0-2). Fouled out--U. of North Georgia-Julie McKie;
Deana Blankinship, Francis Marion University-Kristin Tines. Rebounds--U. of
North Georgia 43 (Jordan Livesay 12), Francis Marion University 39 (Shaunice
Fulmore 10). Assists--U. of North Georgia 19 (Julie McKie 4), Francis Marion
University 10 (TeTe Flowers 6). Total fouls--U. of North Georgia 26, Francis
Marion University 24. Technical fouls--None. A-877
Charges drawn: McKie, Flowers, Livesay