The Francis Marion University women's basketball team will open Peach Belt Conference action on Wednesday (Jan. 6) with a 3 p.m. tip-off at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla.
The Patriots were originally set to play at Georgia College on Wednesday, but that contest was postponed due to a positive test and contract tracing within the Bobcat program. Wednesday was also set to be FMU's season-opener, but the Patriots dropped a non-conference road decision to Anderson University last Saturday – a game that was hastily scheduled 24 hours prior to tip-off.
Sixth-year head coach
Jeri Porter welcomes back eight players from last season's 14-13 squad, including three starters. The roster also includes an NCAA Division I transfer and four freshmen.
"I am really enjoying this group," Porter said. "They have worked hard against some unique circumstances, and have done a good job of getting ready to play."
The returnees are led by pre-season All-PBC selection
Kiana Adderton. The 6-1 senior forward averaged 17.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season, while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor. "Kiana is obviously an impact player and will be the focus of every squad we play this season," Porter said. "In addition to scoring and rebounding, this year we will also look to her for leadership on the floor, consistency, and the other communication intangibles that lead to success." Adderton owns career totals of 815 points and 346 rebounds.
The other returning starters include senior point guard
Camryn Johnson (3.7 ppg, 3.0 assists per game) and sophomore guard
Scarlett Gilmore (8.6 ppg, 35.0 3FG%). Also coming back is guard
Abigail Bullock (8.4 ppg), who suffered a season-ending injury only eight games into her senior campaign. She has appeared in 73 contests over the past four years and scored 727 points. Junior guard
Jasmyne May, who started last year's opener and then suffered a season-ending in that contest, is healthy and back.
Senior guards
Khamele Manning (3.7 ppg, 38.9 3FG%) and
Taylor Simmons (2.1 ppg) also return for 2021 as does senior 5-9 forward
Briana White (1.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg).
Joining the Patriots is 6-1 sophomore forward
Jasmine Stanley, a transfer from Alabama A&M University where she appeared in 25 of 30 games last season. "It will take Jasmine a while to get comfortable with our system as she just joined us at the semester break, but we will look to her for contributions in the scoring column and on the glass."
The squad's four freshmen are 5-6 guard
Ravyn Madaris (Austell, GA), 5-5 guard
Aniyah Oliver (Goose Creek, SC), 5-5 guard
MiLeia Owens (Charlotte, NC), and 6-0 forward
Lauryn Taylor (Blythewood, SC). "We brought in freshmen who can score. Oliver can both put the ball in the hoop and distribute, while Taylor has a skill set of inside and outside play that will mesh well with Adderton." Oliver scored in double-figures in Saturday's road game at Anderson. Oliver also teamed with Stanley on the 2019 Goose Creek High School state championship squad.
Francis Marion led the PBC in blocked shots last year (4.4 per game), while also ranking fourth in assists (13.6 per game) and field goal percentage (40.3%). The Patriots allowed only 66.3 ppg in 2019-20 and held opponents to 39.4 percent shooting.
Wednesday's match-up will mark the 23th meeting between Francis Marion and Flagler with the Patriots holding a 12-10 edge. FMU swept last season's series, winning 66-60 in Florence and 79-73 in St. Augustine.
The Patriots' home opener will be Saturday (Jan. 9) against the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes at 1:30 p.m. in the Smith University Center.
Attendance at FMU home basketball games will be limited to 250 individuals. Attendees will include only season ticket holders and player and staff family members identified on a pre-game pass list. Masks will be required in the Smith University Center and social distancing will be observed. No general admission game-day tickets will be sold.
This decision was made after reviewing current NCAA protocols and CDC guidance.
Fans will still be able to watch the Patriots as FMU will stream its home games at https://pbcsportsnetwork.com/fmupatriots/ . Francis Marion will also offer live stats of each home game at https://fmupatriots.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary (men) and https://fmupatriots.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary (women).
The Patriots' 2021 schedule includes eight home contests in the Smith University Center, where Francis Marion is 46-21 during Porter's tenure.
Porter is eight wins shy of 300 for her career, while Francis Marion is five victories shy of 900. FMU ranks 12th on the all-time Division II wins list with an 895-488 mark in 47 seasons. The Patriots have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 10 of the past 24 seasons.
FMU 2021 ROSTER
No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown (High School)
1
Kiana Adderton F Sr. 6-1 Myrtle Beach, SC (Myrtle Beach HS)
3
Jasmyne May G Jr. 5-8 Sanford, NC (Fayetteville Christian School)
5
Abigail Bullock G Sr. 5-6 Brooklyn, NY (Fayetteville NC Christian School)
10
Khamele Manning G Sr. 5-7 Little Rock, SC (Dillon HS)
11
Taylor Simmons G Sr. 5-4 Atlanta, GA (Hiram HS)
13
Aniyah Oliver G Fr. 5-5 Goose Creek, SC (Goose Creek HS)
20
Jasmine Stanley F So. 6-1 Myrtle Beach, SC (Goose Creek HS)
21
Scarlett Gilmore G So. 5-7 Rock Hill, SC (South Pointe HS)
22
MiLeia Owens G Fr. 5-5 Charlotte, NC (Providence Day School)
23
Camryn Johnson G Sr. 5-6 Fort Washington, MD (Elizabeth Seton HS)
30
Ravyn Madaris G Fr. 5-6 Austell, GA (Pebblebrook HS)
32
Lauryn Taylor F Fr. 6-0 Blythewood, SC (Spring Valley HS)
33
Briana White F Sr. 5-9 Mitchellville, MD (Elizabeth Seton HS)
HEAD COACH:
Jeri Porter
ASSISTANT COACHES:
Johnette Walker,
Victoria Dye
FMU 2021 SCHEDULE
Date Time Opponent
Jan. 2 (Sat) Loss 49-67 at Anderson
Jan. 6 (Wed) 3:00 pm at Flagler
Jan. 9 (Sat) 1:30 pm GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN
Jan. 13 (Wed) 5:30 pm at Lander
Jan. 16 (Sat) 3:30 pm at North Georgia
Jan. 20 (Wed) 5:30 pm USC AIKEN
Jan. 23 (Sat) 1:30 pm YOUNG HARRIS
Jan. 27 (Wed) 5:30 pm UNC PEMBROKE
Jan. 30 (Sat) 1:30 pm at Columbus State
Feb. 3 (Wed) 5:30 pm at Augusta
Feb. 6 (Sat) 3:00 pm CLAYTON STATE
Feb. 13 (Sat) 1:30 pm LANDER
Feb. 17 (Wed) 5:30 pm at UNC Pembroke
Feb. 20 (Sat) 3:30 pm at USC Aiken
Feb. 24 (Wed) 5:30 pm AUGUSTA
Feb. 27 (Sat) 1:30 pm FLAGLER
Mar. 3 (Wed) TBA PBC Tournament (Semifinals)
Mar. 6 (Sat) TBA PBC Tournament (Championship)
***Schedule is subject to change***
