FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1-5-00

Courtesy Francis Marion Sports Information Office

#18 FMU Women Surge Past Lady Pirates in Second Half

FLORENCE, S.C. - Senior center Chiffonia Adderson scored 21 points to lead four Francis Marion University players in double figures and the 18th-ranked Patriots used a strong second-half performance to sink the Lady Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic State University 76-56 in Peach Belt Athletic Conference women's action Wednesday night.

Adderson also hauled down a team-high nine rebounds as FMU improved to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the PBAC. The Patriots also won for the 51st time in their last 53 home games. Senior Jennifer Brabson scored 16 points, while junior guard Christy Wright added 15 points and nine assists, and sophomore Christy Thomas chipped in 12 points.

Sophomore guard Lexie Martin led AASU (3-10, 0-3), which lost for the ninth time in its last ten outings, with 12 points, while Duanda Bell added 11 points, and Rebecca Hubbard 10.

FMU led 37-34 at halftime, but a lay-up by Armstrong Atlantic State's Shawnte Craig cut the margin to 37-36 with 18:50 remaining. The Patriots then put together a 17-3 run over six minutes to take a 54-39 advantage. During that span, AASU missed 11 consecutive field goal attempts.

The Lady Pirates trailed by only 12 points (68-56) with 2:05 left, but Francis Marion scored the game's final eight points.

Patriots Down Pirates in Peach Belt Play 67-56

FLORENCE, S.C. - Junior swingman Will Tucker scored a game-high 15 points as Francis Marion University rallied from a two-point halftime deficit to claim a 67-56 win over Armstrong Atlantic State University, Wednesday night in Peach Belt Athletic Conference men's action.

FMU junior Rod Stevenson equaled his career high of 13 points, while freshman center Markus Oertelt reached double figures for the third straight game with 12 points. FMU wins for the third time in-a-row to improve to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in the Peach Belt.

Junior 6-10 center Cyrille Mainnemarre led AASU (4-9, 1-2) with 14 points and nine rebounds. Robert Campbell added 13 points and David Koncul scored 10.

Trailing 28-26 at intermission, Francis Marion tied the game on an Oertelt jumper one minute into the second stanza. The score remained close, but FMU took the lead for good on a lay-up by Oertelt with 7:24 left.

A Campbell jumper kept the Pirates close at 55-54, but a 6-0 Patriot spurt gave FMU a 61-54 advantage with 2:50 left on the clock. Following two free throws by Mainnemarre, Francis Marion hit six-of-six free throws in the final 35 seconds to account for the final score.

The Patriots committed a season-low nine turnovers, including only two in the second half. FMU also hit five of eight shots from beyond the three-point arc in the second half and finished the game 8 of 21 from long distance.

- Pirates -