FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward Trinity Adams scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Francis Marion University used a stellar first-half defensive effort to capture a 56-48 win over local-rival UNC Pembroke, Wednesday evening (Feb. 19) in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action.
 
Francis Marion, now 19-5 overall and 14-3 in conference play, clinches at least a share of the East Division crown.  The Patriots will host Emmanuel University for Homecoming 2025 on Saturday with tip-off at 2 p.m.  That will be the final regular-season home contest as well.
 
In addition to posting her sixth double-double of the season, Adams handed out a team-high five assists.  The Rock Hill native connected on 8-of-16 field goal attempts.
 
Sophomore center Trinity Delaney scored 11 points and senior forward Kiana Lee added 10 points and six rebounds.  In the process, Lee passed former FMU guard Cherita Linton for 25th position on the Patriot career scoring list with 1,170 points.
 
Sophomore guard Anastasia Sinclair led UNCP (19-7, 13-5) with 12 points.  FMU swept the season series from the Braves in the Battle of I-95.
 
Francis Marion never trailed in the contest.  After a brief tie at 4-4, Delaney contributed two inside hoops to a 6-0 spurt that gave FMU the lead for good.  The Patriots led 10-6 at the end of the opening quarter as they held UNCP to 3-of-14 shooting.
 
The Braves drew to within 13-9 early in the second period, but FMU responded with a 7-0 run that stretched the margin to 20-9 with 4:24 left before halftime.  A floater in the lane by Adams and a free throw by Delaney pushed the advantage to 27-15 as the teams left the court at intermission.  FMU held the Braves to 23.3 percent shooting over the opening 20 minutes.
 
UNCP scored the opening four points of the third period to cut the deficit under double figures at 27-19, but again Francis Marion answered, this time with a 9-2 spurt that produced a 15-point lead.  The margin was 42-29 at the end of the quarter.
 
A three-pointer by Lee gave Francis Marion a 47-33 lead with 7:33 remaining.  Five straight points by UNCP cut the margin to 47-38 at the midway point of the final period.  The lead shrunk to seven, 49-42, with 2:36 on the clock, but Adams converted a driving lay-up and a three-point play to push the advantage back to double digits and seal the outcome.
 
Francis Marion shot 35.9 percent from the floor and was 7-of-11 at the foul line, while the Braves finished at 31.8 percent from the floor and only 3-of-8 at the free throw stripe.
 
FMU forced 19 UNCP turnovers that were converted in 15 points.