AIKEN, SC – Senior guard
Kennedi Simmons posted season-highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds as Francis Marion University led wire-to-wire in an 83-58 win at USC Aiken, Thursday afternoon (Dec. 19) in non-conference women's basketball action.
Francis Marion (9-1), a winner of nine straight since a season-opening two-point loss, continues its best start in nine seasons, dating back to the 2015-16 NCAA Tournament squad that opened 9-0. The Patriots, who received votes in this week's WBCA Top 25 poll, will return to action after their Christmas break with a non-conference contest at Shaw University on Jan. 1 at 2 p.m.
Simmons connected on 8-of-15 field goal attempts, including 4-of-6 shots from behind the three-point arc, and made both of her free throw attempts. She also registered three steals and a pair of assists.
Junior forward
Danielle Jackson followed with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting off the bench, while senior guard
Jada Richards and junior
Trinity Adams scored 12 points apiece and sophomore center
Trinity Delaney added 10 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Riley Simmons led USCA (3-7) with 11 points and six rebounds.
FMU opened the game by hitting four of its first five three-point attempts and raced to a 14-2 advantage less than five minutes in. The margin swelled to 20-7 after two free throws by Adams with 2:55 left in the quarter. The Patriots led 24-13 at the end of the period as Simmons tallied 10 points.
A mid-range jumper by sophomore
Sydney Turner and a lay-in by Richards to open the second quarter stretched the lead to 28-13. The Pacers made a brief run to trim the margin to 30-19, but the Patriots responded with three straight hoops to push the lead to 36-19. The halftime advantage was 42-25.
The Pacers scored the opening three points of the third period to draw within 42-29, but that was as close as USCA would get. Five points by Simmons and a fast-break lay-up by Adams extended the margin to 20 points (49-29), and two free throws by Adams to close out the period made the lead 22 points at 65-43.
A steal and lay-in by freshman guard
Deana Epps with 1:19 remaining gave FMU its largest lead at 83-56.
FMU shot 41.9 percent from the floor, including 8-of-22 from long range, and was 13-of-16 at the foul line. USCA was held to 38.5 percent shooting, including only 4-of-20 from beyond the arc, and was 14-of-16 at the free throw stripe.
The Patriots outrebounded the Pacers 47-30 and led 22-4 in second-chance points. FMU also forced 21 USCA turnovers that were converted into 25 points.
