WILSON, NC – Francis Marion University held a three-point lead over 17th-ranked Barton College heading into the fourth quarter, but the unbeaten Bulldogs rallied over the final 10 minutes to claim a 65-52 victory, Tuesday evening (Nov. 30) in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action.
 
Francis Marion (1-4, 0-3) will play its home opener on Friday at 5:30 p.m. when King University (Tenn.) visits the Smith University Center.  FMU will be celebrating Pearl Moore Night as the legendary Patriot standout will be honored at the conclusion of the women's game (before the men's contest).
 
Junior center Zaria Woods led the Patriots with 16 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Scarlett Gilmore chipped in 12 points.  Sophomore point guard Aniyah Oliver added eight points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
 
Shanika Peterkin led Barton (5-0, 1-0) with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Bulldogs scored the game's opening eight points and led 17-9 at the conclusion of the first period.  The margin swelled to 25-13 near the midway point of the second.  Barton led by 10 points at 28-18 before FMU closed the first half with an 8-1 spurt – including two buckets from Gilmore – to draw within 29-26 at halftime.
 
A lay-in by Woods gave Francis Marion its first lead of the night at 35-34 with 6:45 left in the third quarter.  A three-pointer by Oliver stretched the lead to 47-42 in the final minute of the period, before two Barton free throws made the Patriot advantage 47-44 heading to the final 10 minutes.  FMU shot 9-of-14 from the floor in the third quarter.
 
Barton scored the first five points of the final period to regain the lead.  An inside hoop by Woods knotted the score at 51-51 with 6:24 remaining.  However, the Bulldogs would outscore the Patriots 14-1 over the remainder of the contest.
 
Francis Marion connected on 40.4 percent of its field goal attempts for the game and was 9-of-17 at the free throw stripe.  Barton hit 34.8 percent of its shots and was 11-of-15 on free throws.
 
 
11/30/21 5:00 pm at Wilson, NC
#17 BARTON 65, FRANCIS MARION 52
FRANCIS MARION (1-4,0-3 Conferen)
Zaria Woods 8-14 0-0 16; Scarlett Gilmore 4-9 4-9 12; Aniyah Oliver 3-8 1-2
8; Lauryn Taylor 3-11 1-2 7; Jasmine Stanley 1-3 1-2 3; Jasmyne May 1-3 0-0
2; Kiana Lee 1-2 0-0 2; MiLeia Owens 0-0 2-2 2; Janiyah Hagood 0-0 0-0 0;
Jada Richards 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-52 9-17 52.
BARTON (5-0,1-0 Conferen)
Shanika Peterkin 9-15 4-6 22; Lauren Walker 5-9 0-0 14; Akira Wiggins 4-13
5-6 14; Jami Tham 3-11 0-0 6; Michelle Gainey 1-6 0-0 3; Raejana Wright 1-3
1-1 3; Payton Sutton 1-9 0-0 2; Michaela Dixon 0-2 1-2 1; Kayla Byrne 0-1
0-0 0; Aniyah Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-69 11-15 65.
Francis Marion............    9   17   21    5  -   52
Barton........................   17   12   15   21  -   65
3-point goals--Francis Marion 1-6 (Aniyah Oliver 1-2; Scarlett Gilmore 0-1;
Lauryn Taylor 0-2; Kiana Lee 0-1), Barton 6-22 (Lauren Walker 4-7; Akira
Wiggins 1-6; Michelle Gainey 1-5; Payton Sutton 0-2; Kayla Byrne 0-1; Jami
Tham 0-1). Fouled out--Francis Marion-Zaria Woods, Barton-None.
Rebounds--Francis Marion 37 (Zaria Woods 7; Aniyah Oliver 7), Barton 45
(Shanika Peterkin 12). Assists--Francis Marion 15 (Aniyah Oliver 7), Barton
14 (Akira Wiggins 4). Total fouls--Francis Marion 14, Barton 14. Technical
fouls--None. A-125