FLORENCE, SC – Senior Kiana Lee scored 15 points to lead six Patriots in double figures as Francis Marion University ran past Converse University 88-66, Saturday afternoon (Nov. 23) in both team's Conference Carolinas season opener.
 
Francis Marion improves to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play as the Patriots have won 22 of their last 23 home games.  FMU will host Young Harris College on Saturday (Nov. 30) at 2 p.m.
 
Lee was 7-of-7 at the free throw line and handed out a team-high and career-high nine assists.  Junior Trinity Adams pumped in 14 points, while seniors Jada Richards and Kennedi Simmons and freshman Kiara Croskey all scored 12.  Simmons pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds and Croskey dished out six assists.
 
Junior 6-1 center and Darlington native Sommer Joseph posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Junior guard Alexis Becker led Converse (1-4, 0-1) with 17 points.
 
The Valkyries jumped out to an early 10-5 lead, but sparked by Simmons, Francis Marion responded with a 10-2 run to go up 15-12.  Converse answered with six straight points and led 18-17 at the end of the first quarter.
 
A three-point play by Joseph and a three-pointer by Simmons to open the second period put FMU ahead for good at 23-18.  The advantage would grow to 32-24 after a fast-break hoop by Adams with 4:45 left in the half.
 
A rare four-point play by Richards and a lay-in by Croskey propelled the Patriots to a 43-28 halftime advantage.
 
The margin stayed in double digits during the third period.  Converse did draw to within 10 at 48-38, but Francis Marion scored the next 10 points to push the margin to 20 points.  The Patriots led 66-49 heading to the final quarter.
 
FMU's largest lead was 25 points at 81-56 following an inside bucket by Joseph.
 
FMU outrebounded the Valkyries 50-33 and held a 14-9 edge in second-chance points.
 
Francis Marion connected on 46.4 percent from the floor, including 9-of-20 from behind the three-point arc, and was 15-of-23 at the foul line.  FMU held Converse to 37.9 percent shooting, while the Valkyries were 11-of-17 on free throw attempts.