FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Basketball team hosted Francis Marion University this afternoon in conference action. It was a tightly contested battle, with each team making key plays but the Patriots came away with a 64-60 victory. With the loss, the Lions fall to 10-7 on the season, 5-6 in conference play.
The two teams traded points and the lead from the tip-off, with
Hannah Harris,
Natalee Goff,
Naomi Roberts and
Kate Jackson getting involved early. The Lions pulled ahead 10-8 on a three-pointer from Jackson and Emmanuel continued a 6-0 run to go up 16-8 with 4:16 to play in the first. The Patriots responded well, tying the game up at 16-16 and closing out the quarter strong to take a 19-18 lead into the 2
nd. In the first, the Lions shot 8-16 from the field, connecting on two from beyond the arc.
The Lions opened up the second quarter strong, taking an eight-point lead on jumpers from Roberts and back-to-back three-pointers from
Carmen Cabello-Rivera to make it 30-22, Lions with 2:53 to play until the break. The Lions took a five-point lead into the half, 32-27. In the 2
nd quarter, the Lions shot 5-13 from the field, connecting on 2-2 from the foul line.
After the break, the Patriots quickly tied the game up at 34-34, taking the lead 40-38 with 4:46 to play in the third. The Patriots shot 58% in the quarter, pulling ahead by as much as 9, but the Lions closed the gap late on buckets from Roberts and Jackson to close the quarter with Francis Marion up by 5, 52-47.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions used free throws by Jackson and jumpers made by Goff to cut the Patriots lead to 56-54 early. The teams traded buckets until a three-pointer from
Lizzie Teasley with 4:44 to play in the game gave the Lions a 59-58 lead. With the game tied at 60-60 with 2:15 to play, the Patriots closed out the game a perfect 4-4 from the foul line to earn a 64-60 victory.
Kate Jackson led the team with 18 points and 9 rebounds on the afternoon, with
Naomi Roberts (17) and
Natalee Goff (14) also in double figures.
The Lions will be back at the Shaw Athletic Center at 5PM on Thursday with a matchup against Belmont Abbey.
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.