PEMBROKE, NC – Francis Marion University junior Trinity Adams scored a team-high 18 points, including the clinching bucket with 39 seconds left, and UNC Pembroke missed a potential game-tying free throw with 1.8 ticks remaining allowing FMU to escape with a 78-77 come-from-behind road win, Monday (Feb. 3) evening in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action.
 
The Patriots (15-5, 10-3) return home to host Barton College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
 
Adams was one of five Patriots to score in double figures.  Senior Jada Richards scored 14 points, while sophomore center Trinity Delaney and freshman point guard Kiara Croskey each added 13 points and senior forward Kiana Lee 12.  Delaney hauled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Croskey pilfered four steals.
 
Zaria Clark paced UNCP (17-5, 11-3) with 18 points.
 
After scoring the final six points of the third quarter, the UNCP run carried over into the fourth period with two buckets resulting in a 64-55 margin with eight minutes left in the game.  The Patriots answered with a 10-0 to regain the lead at 65-64.  After UNCP tied the game on a free throw, Adams converted a fast-break lay-in and drained two free throws to put the Patriots up for good at 69-65.  A three-pointer by senior Kennedi Simmons off an in-bounds play made the score 76-72 and Adams' inside hoop with 38.9 seconds left continued the lead at four, 78-74.
 
UNCP's Anastasia Sinclair trimmed the margin to 78-76 on a fast-break jumper in the paint with 32.8 seconds remaining, and following an FMU turnover, the Braves had three shots to tie or take the lead before Clark was fouled with 1.8 ticks on the clock.  The conference's leading free throw shooter at 88 percent made the first shot, but missed the second attempt and Delaney rebounded the miss and the horn sounded.
 
Francis Marion connected on 46.4 percent of its field goal attempts, including 9-of-18 from behind the three-point arc, and was 5-of-7 (all by Adams) at the free throw line.  UNCP shot 51.8 percent from the floor, including 5-of-13 from long range, and was 14-of-22 at the charity stripe.
 
For the game, FMU converted 18 Braves' turnovers into 27 points.
 
Richards drained a three-pointer to snap an early 5-5 deadlock and ignited a 15-6 spurt that gave FMU a 20-11 lead.  Richards split a pair of UNCP defenders to convert a lay-up just before the first-quarter horn as the Patriots assumed a 24-15 advantage.  FMU converted seven UNCP turnovers into 11 points over the opening 10 minutes.
 
The Braves responded with a 10-0 run to open the second period and erased the deficit. Another three-pointer by Richards regained the lead for Francis Marion briefly at 27-25, but UNCP scored the next 12 points to take a 37-27 lead with 3:22 left before halftime.  The margin swelled to 40-29 after a three-pointer by Stella Mollica, but FMU closed the half with a 9-4 spurt over the final 1:37 to draw within 44-38 at intermission.
 
Sparked by Croskey, Francis Marion opened the third quarter with a 10-4 spurt to knot the score at 48-48.  A 13-foot jumper by Simmons gave the Patriots a 53-52 lead.  After a Braves' bucket, Delaney put FMU back up 55-54 with a stick-back hoop.  However, UNCP scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 60-55 lead heading to the final 10 minutes.