FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11-28-01

Courtesy Francis Marion University Sports Information

Thomas Helps Pirates Walk-The-Plank as #18 FMU Coasts 80-56

FLORENCE, SC - Senior guard Christy Thomas scored 26 points and keyed a 14-0 run to open the second half as 18th-ranked Francis Marion University rolled to an 80-56 win over Armstrong Atlantic State University in Peach Belt Conference women's action Wednesday night (Nov. 28).

FMU improves to 5-1, while AASU remains winless in five games. The contest was the PBC opener for both schools.

Despite leading most of the first half, Francis Marion could not shake the pesky Pirates. A three-point field goal by Becky Tompkins with three ticks left before intermission trimmed the FMU lead to 37-33.

Francis Marion stormed out of the locker room and scored the first 14 points of the second stanza to grab a 51-33 advantage. Thomas contributed 10 points to the spurt, including a pair of three-pointers. Her game total was two shy of her career high set last season.

FMU's largest lead would come at 80-53 on a three-point play by sophomore center Joanna Tincher. The Patriots shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes, while holding AASU to nine of 28 shooting (32.1%).

Francis Marion senior forward Brandy Hensley scored a career-high 10 points, while junior 6-0 center Jontell Johnson added 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Junior 6-0 center Zandrique Cason led Armstrong Atlantic State with 11 points and nine rebounds.

FMU plays at Georgia College & State University, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Milledgeville, Ga.