AUGUSTA, GA – Francis Marion University freshman Lauryn Taylor posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in her collegiate debut, but a late Patriot rally fell short in a 60-51 road loss to Augusta University, Wednesday evening (Feb. 4) in women's basketball action.
 
FMU (0-5, 0-4) was playing its first game in 22 days due to covid-19 protocols.  The Patriots will now play three consecutive home games starting with a 3 p.m. tip-off against Clayton State University on Saturday.
 
Taylor, a product of Spring Valley High School, also pilfered a team-high four steals. Freshman guard Aniyah Oliver led Francis Marion with a career-high equaling 13 points.  Sophomore guard Scarlett Gilmore added nine points and sophomore 6-1 forward Jasmine Stanley tallied seven points and six rebounds.
 
Zairya West paced the Jaguars (2-3, 1-0) with 18 points, while Keira Howard scored 14.
 
After falling behind 4-0 to open the game, FMU went on a 15-6 run to lead 15-10 after an Abigail Bullock three-pointer.  A lay-in by Mechella Davis in the final minute of the first quarter snapped a 17-17 deadlock and gave Augusta a 19-17 lead.
 
A 5-0 spurt by the Patriots – capped by a jump shot by senior guard Taylor Simmons – put FMU back ahead 22-21 with 7:18 left in the second period.  After the Jaguars retook the lead, a three-pointer by Oliver brought Francis Marion to within 28-27 with 3:59 on the clock.  However, Augusta closed the half with an 8-1 run to own a 36-28 advantage at intermission.
 
A third-quarter triple by Gilmore kept FMU within eight points at 42-34, but Augusta scored the next six points and were never seriously threatened after that point.
 
A 12-1 Patriot run in the final minutes got the margin back under double figures.
 
Francis Marion shot 31.1 percent from the floor and connected on 7-of-10 free throws, while Augusta shot 47.1 percent from the field and made 11-of-19 charity tosses.
 
 
2/3/21 5:30 PM at Christenberry Fieldhouse
AUGUSTA 60, FRANCIS MARION 51
FRANCIS MARION (0-5, 0-4)
Aniyah Oliver 5-9 1-1 13; Lauryn Taylor 4-18 4-6 12; Scarlett Gilmore 3-12
0-0 9; Jasmine Stanley 3-7 1-1 7; Taylor Simmons 2-5 0-0 4; Briana White 1-1
1-2 3; Abigail Bullock 1-7 0-0 3; Camryn Johnson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-61
7-10 51.
AUGUSTA (2-3, 1-0)
Zairya West 6-13 5-5 18; Kiera Howard 4-5 6-12 14; Kennedi Manning 6-13 0-0
12; November Morton 3-7 0-0 6; Stella Logbognon 2-2 0-0 4; Mechella Davis
1-3 0-2 2; Michaela Lane 1-3 0-0 2; Asia Harrison 1-5 0-0 2; Jaelyn Autman
0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-51 11-19 60.
Francis Marion.............  17   11    8   15  -   51
Augusta.......................   19   17   16    8  -   60
3-point goals--Francis Marion 6-22 (Scarlett Gilmore 3-8; Aniyah Oliver 2-4;
Abigail Bullock 1-4; Camryn Johnson 0-2; Jasmine Stanley 0-1; Lauryn Taylor
0-3), Augusta 1-11 (Zairya West 1-6; November Morton 0-3; Asia Harrison
0-2). Fouled out--Francis Marion-None, Augusta-None. Rebounds--Francis
Marion 35 (Lauryn Taylor 10), Augusta 39 (Kennedi Manning 8).
Assists--Francis Marion 10 (Abigail Bullock 3), Augusta 7 (Kiera Howard 3).
Total fouls--FMU 15, Augusta 13. Technical fouls--None.