FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward Kiana Adderton scored a team-high 24 points, including a step-back jumper in the lane with 59 ticks left in overtime, to help Francis Marion University to an 81-76 win over visiting Clayton State University, Saturday (Jan. 18) afternoon in Peach Belt Conference women's basketball play.

Francis Marion will continue PBC play with a road game at Georgia Southwestern State University on Monday (Jan. 20) afternoon at 1:30 p.m.  The Patriots return home to host Georgia College on Wednesday (Jan. 22) at 5:30 p.m. and Flagler College on Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Adderton also hauled down a career-high 13 rebounds to record her second double-double of the season and fourth overall as a Patriot. Sophomore center Zaria Woods followed with a double-double of her own with 17 points and 13 rebounds. She connected on her final seven shots from the floor to improve her season field goal percentage to 68.3 percent. 

FMU freshman guard Scarlett Gilmore scored 12 points to register her fourth consecutive double-digit effort.  Junior guard Camryn Johnson added nine points as did junior Macy Passmore, for whom the total was a career high.

Clayton State (9-6, 5-2) was led by senior guard Taneria Wilson who tallied 34 points, 10 steals, five rebounds, and four assists. Senior forward Kelsie Towns chipped in 14 points for the Lakers.

FMU outrebounded Clayton State 41-31, while the Patriots shot a season-high 50.8 percent from the floor and were 17-of-21 from the free throw line. Clayton State shot 40.3 percent from the field and was 12-of-19 at the charity stripe.

The Patriots trailed 33-24 at halftime, but outscored the Lakers 28-14 in the third period, thanks to a sizzling 10-of-13 shooting performance (76.9%). The outburst gave FMU a 52-48 advantage heading to the final quarter.

Four points was the widest margin the final period. Clayton State tied the game on a three-pointer by Towns with 17 seconds left. The Patriots missed a potential game-winning three-pointer on the final possession of regulation.

In overtime, a 6-0 spurt by Francis Marion erased a 72-69 Laker advantage and gave FMU the lead for good.  A beautiful interior pass from Gilmore to Woods resulted in a lay-in and a 77-74 Francis Marion lead with 1:31 remaining.

Two free throws by Wilson cut the margin to one point, but Adderton's jumper in the lane and two free throws by Gilmore with five ticks left sealed the win.

The Patriots also held a commanding 48-28 advantage in points in the paint.

POST-GAME COMMENTS FROM FMU HEAD COACH JERI PORTER AND JUNIOR KIANA ADDERTON

01/18/20 1:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION 81, CLAYTON ST. 76  OT
CLAYTON ST. (9-6,5-2 Peach Be)
Wilson,Taneria 12-19 6-6 34; Towns,Kelsie 5-14 2-3 14; Williams,Christal 2-8
2-2 8; Williams,Brittany 2-4 1-6 5; Francois Lubin,Jada 2-7 1-2 5;
Swanson,Timi'a 2-7 0-0 5; Russell,Praise 1-3 0-0 3; Montgomery,Dejah 1-3 0-0
2; Mackey,Bre'l 0-0 0-0 0; Hill,Kyndall 0-1 0-0 0; Poole,Jonnise 0-1 0-0 0.
Totals 27-67 12-19 76.
FRANCIS MARION (6-7,2-5 Peach Be)
Kiana Adderton 9-14 6-7 24; Zaria Woods 8-11 1-1 17; Scarlett Gilmore 3-8
6-6 12; Macy Passmore 3-9 0-0 9; Camryn Johnson 3-4 3-4 9; Kristian Wall 2-8
1-3 6; Briana White 1-2 0-0 2; Mary Davis 1-2 0-0 2; Taylor Simmons 0-1 0-0
0; Tatyana McClaney 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-59 17-21 81.
Clayton St....................   12   21   14   20    9  -   76
Francis Marion................   12   12   28   15   14  -   81
3-point goals--Clayton St. 10-25 (Wilson,Taneria 4-7; Towns,Kelsie 2-7;
Williams,Christal 2-5; Swanson,Timi'a 1-1; Russell,Praise 1-2; Poole,Jonnise
0-1; Montgomery,Dejah 0-1; Francois Lubin,Jada 0-1), Francis Marion 4-20
(Macy Passmore 3-9; Kristian Wall 1-5; Scarlett Gilmore 0-3; Taylor Simmons
0-1; Kiana Adderton 0-2). Fouled out--Clayton St.-Francois Lubin,Jada,
Francis Marion-None. Rebounds--Clayton St. 31 (Towns,Kelsie 6), Francis
Marion 41 (Kiana Adderton 13; Zaria Woods 13). Assists--Clayton St. 14
(Wilson,Taneria 4), Francis Marion 16 (Kiana Adderton 3; Camryn Johnson 3;
Scarlett Gilmore 3). Total fouls--Clayton St. 22, Francis Marion 19.
Technical fouls--None. A-674