FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University senior center Lauryn Taylor notched her 20th double-double of the year with 23 points and 16 rebounds in a 100-55 Homecoming win over King University (Tenn.), Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24) in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action.
 
Francis Marion improves to 19-7 overall and 14-3 in conference action.  The Patriots will conclude their regular-season schedule on Wednesday at home against Belmont Abbey College.  The Senior Night contest will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
 
Taylor connected on 9-of-15 field goal attempts and was a perfect 5-of-5 at the foul line, despite only playing 22 minutes. Taylor moved past former Patriot Martha Williamson and into sixth place on the school's career rebounding list with 988, while pushing her career point total over 1,600.
 
Freshman guard MacKenzie Feagin came off the FMU bench to score a career-high 17 points, including five three-pointers.  She is a product of Trinity Collegiate School.  Darlington native and sophomore center Sommer Joseph also set a new career high with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting.  Junior Jada Richards was the fourth Patriot to reach double figures as she tallied 13, also on 6-of-9 shooting
 
Reserve center Kiley Beach led King (2-25, 1-16) with 15 points and nine rebounds.
 
After a pair of early ties at 2-2 and 4-4, Francis Marion took the lead for good with a 14-0 run.  A three-pointer by Feagin swelled the margin to 30-10 at the end of the first quarter.
 
FMU outscored the Tornado 26-4 in the second period – holding King to 2-of-16 shooting – to take a 56-14 halftime advantage.
 
The Patriots' largest lead came at 94-39 after a three-pointer by Feagin with 7:04 remaining.
 
Francis Marion shot 58.3 percent from the floor and was 10-of-15 at the free throw stripe.  The Tornado was held to 30.8 percent shooting and made 13-of-20 charity tosses.
 
The Patriots converted 15 King turnovers into 26 points and held a commanding 66-30 edge in points in the paint.
 
 
02/24/24 2:00 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION 100, KING (TN) 55
KING (TN) (2-25, 1-16)
Kiley Beach 7-12 1-2 15; Alexa Gramann 2-6 6-6 10; Brianna Dunbar 2-11 2-4
7; Jaelyn West 2-11 1-1 5; Jaden Potts 2-4 1-1 5; Alayna Smith 2-4 1-4 5;
Jhayda McKinney 2-9 0-0 4; Ashley Phillip 1-7 1-2 4; Michelle Gallegos 0-1
0-0 0. Totals 20-65 13-20 55.
FRANCIS MARION (19-7, 14-3)
Lauryn Taylor 9-15 5-5 23; MacKenzie Feagin 6-10 0-0 17; Jada Richards 6-9
0-0 13; Sommer Joseph 6-9 0-2 12; Kiana Lee 4-7 0-0 8; Trinity Adams 4-6 0-0
8; Nevaeh Farmer 3-8 2-2 8; Sydney Turner 2-2 0-2 4; Trinity Delaney 1-2 1-2
3; MiLeia Owens 1-1 0-0 2; Gabby Evans 0-1 2-2 2; Lauren Brokken 0-1 0-0 0;
KiMyah Foggie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 42-72 10-15 100.
King (TN).....................   10    4   17   24  -   55
Francis Marion.............   30   26   26   18  -  100
3-point goals--King (TN) 2-16 (Ashley Phillip 1-3; Brianna Dunbar 1-4;
Jaelyn West 0-2; Jaden Potts 0-2; Jhayda McKinney 0-5), Francis Marion 6-15
(MacKenzie Feagin 5-9; Jada Richards 1-2; Kiana Lee 0-1; Trinity Adams 0-1;
Lauryn Taylor 0-2). Fouled out--King (TN)-None, Francis Marion-None.
Rebounds--King (TN) 29 (Kiley Beach 9), Francis Marion 50 (Lauryn Taylor
16). Assists--King (TN) 10 (Alexa Gramann 4), Francis Marion 24 (Kiana Lee
5). Total fouls--King (TN) 8, Francis Marion 15. Technical fouls--None. A-947