FLORENCE, SC – Junior guard
Terriana Gray led three Patriots in double figures with a career-high 22 points, but Francis Marion University dropped its season opener 86-83 in overtime to Shaw University in a non-conference game in the Smith University Center.
The Patriots will travel to Wingate, N.C., this weekend for the Conference Challenge, facing Coker University on Friday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. before competing against the host Bulldogs of Wingate University on Saturday (Nov. 14) with tip-off set for 4 p.m.
Gray tallied her point total on 8-of-13 shooting while converting six-of-eight from the free-throw line. In 38 minutes on the court, she dished out a team-high seven assists, plus six rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Junior transfer guard
La'Sonja Hill finished with 13 points on 6-of-13 shots with four rebounds, four assists, and four steals in 35 minutes. Sophomore forward
Mariana Moody also reach double figures with 13 points on five-of-nine from the field while contributing five rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes.
Nakia Bardney led the Lady Bears (1-0) with a double-double behind a game-high 30 points and 10 rebounds.
The Patriots delivered a dominant first quarter performance after scoring 17 points off 12 turnovers forced. Francis Marion converted 9-of-16 from the field to hold a 26-11 lead after the initial 10 minutes of the contest. Senior guard
Uriah Jennings led the way with eight points while Gray tallied seven points on a perfect three-of-three shooting.
Following a layup from Gray to begin the second quarter, the Lady Bears countered with a 17-3 after hitting five-of-six from the floor with a pair of three-pointers to close the gap to 31-28 with 4:27 to go. The Patriots would regain a six-point lead with under three-minute left following a three-pointer by junior transfer guard Trinity Field. Shaw closed over the final two-plus minutes with a 9-4 run to trail by one at halftime, 40-39.
Francis Marion delivered a strong response out of the break, converting six-of-eight from the field, led by Moody with six points, to build a 52-41 lead with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter. The Lady Bears managed to once again close the gap, trailing 54-50 with under three minutes to go, but the Patriots went on a 9-4 run to take a 63-54 advantage in the final quarter.
In the fourth, Shaw scored 13 unanswered points in the initial four-plus minutes to take a 67-63 lead. The Lady Bears maintained the lead into the final minutes of the quarter, holding a 71-70 edge with 1:51 left in regulation. A layup by senior forward
Jasmine Grant and a free-throw made by Gray put FMU ahead 73-71 with seven seconds to go. Shaw would convert two shots from the charity stripe to send the contest to overtime.
The Lady Bears mounted a 10-1 run in the opening three-plus minutes of the overtime period, but FMU rallied late with a 9-3 run to trail 86-83 with 13 seconds left. The Patriots shot a pair of three-pointers in the final six seconds, but both attempts missed as Shaw escaped the 86-83 win.
Francis Marion connected on 50.0 percent (31-of-62) of its field goal attempts but was just 16-of-26 at the free throw stripe. Shaw shot 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the floor and converted 25-of-39 on the charity tosses.
