AMERICUS, Ga. – Playing their second game in as many days, the Georgia Southwestern Lady Hurricanes were hoping fatigue wouldn't be a factor after their first ever victory over Francis Marion University, 64-60, the night before. It was no such luck for the Blue & Gold as they lost 64-58 to the visiting Lady Braves of the University of North Carolina Pembroke (9-10, 6-5 PBC).
Despite committing the second lowest number of turnovers of the season (nine turnovers), the legs of GSW shooters showed growing fatigue throughout the game. The 'Canes would shoot 31.3% from the field for the game, which included 27.3% from beyond the arc. Lady Hurricane shooting got worse as the game went on as GSW shot 35.3% (36.4% from three-point range) in the first half and 27.3% (18.2% from three-point range) in the second half.
Senior guard Terra Branch would again lead all scorers with 19 points to go along with her four rebounds and two assists. Fellow senior Jessica Jones would be the only other Lady Hurricane to score in double digits as she registered ten points and four rebounds as well.
Having to play the second of a back-to-back was also an issue for the UNC Pembroke Lady Braves who took on the Lady Hurricanes the night after their 64-48 loss at Columbus State University. They would also shoot an abysmal percentage from three-point range (25.0%), but shot a much more respectable 41.5% (22-53) from the field for the game.
Pembroke also won the rebounding battle by one (42-41), which was due in large part to starting guards Domonique Washington and DeDe Cotton who combined to grab 25 of UNCP's 42 rebounds. The UNCP bench also doubled up the GSW bench in scoring 20 points to ten points.
UNC Pembroke was led by Courtney Bolton who scored 18 points while only missing on one of her eight shots from the field in addition to her five rebounds and three assists. Following her with 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists was DeDe Cotten.
Georgia Southwestern would lead for a majority of the first half by as many as five points before the Lady Braves would take the lead with five and a half minutes to go in the first half. GSW would regain the game leading again by as many five points before DeDe Cotten's made jump shot as the clock expired gave UNCP the 33-32 lead at halftime.
Coach Britsky and company would again retake control of the game as lead by as many as five points in the second half. The visitors would again answer the home team's run with one of their own. Amelia Partin's pair of free throws with 8:25 left in the game. The Lady Braves would never relinquish their lead as they closed out the game with a 12-7 run to earn the 64-58 victory.
The loss puts the Georgia Southwestern record to 12-6 (4-5 PBC) on the season. It will be another short turnaround for the Lady Hurricanes as they will play host to the Lady Saints of North Georgia on Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Storm Dome.
