FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-17-04

Women's Basketball: No. 25 AASU 74, Francis Marion 46
Men's Basketball: No. 19 Francis Marion 69, AASU 65

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men’s and women’s basketball teams split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with visiting Francis Marion University at Alumni Arena on Saturday evening. The Lady Pirates held the Lady Patriots to just 30 percent shooting from the floor in a 74-46 victory, while the No. 19-ranked Patriot men staved off a second-half rally and downed the Pirates, 69-65.

The Pirate men (12-3, 3-1 PBC) were going for their third straight win over a ranked club and fought back from a six-point halftime deficit, 33-27, to take a two-point lead, 63-61, on a jumper by senior Jason Sanders with 3:07 remaining in the contest. AASU fought back to take the lead despite losing leading scorer Brian Bain, who fouled out with 6:23 remaining in the contest after scoring 16 points. On the next possession, FMU’s Michael Jenkins converted two free throws to tie the game back up, then Jenkins found Williams in the paint for a dunk to give FMU the lead by two with 1:53 lefft in the game. The Pirates went another minute and a half without a basket as FMU stretched its lead to five on a three-point play by Louis McCullough with 27 seconds remaining. Williams led all players with career-high 23 point and 16 rebound numbers, while McCullough chipped in 12 for the Patriots (14-1, 4-0). Tim Black led a trio of AASU players in double figures with 18 points. It was Francis Marion’s first win in Savannah against the Pirates since January 13, 1996.

In the women’s game, the Lady Pirates grabbed 60 rebounds and forced 26 Francis Marion turnovers in the 28-point victory. AASU (12-3, 3-1 PBC) held an opponent to a season-low 46 points as Francis Marion (8-5, 2-2 PBC) fell for the 16th straight time in conference play on the road.

FMU trailed by just five, 25-20, with 3:08 remaining in the first half, but the Pirates closed out the first half on a 12-2 run to take a 37-22 lead into halftime, then stretched the lead to 19, 47-28, with 13:55 left. AASU held the Patriots without a three-point basket for the first 30 minutes of the contest and placed four players in double figures, led by senior Tasha Washington’s 20 points.

Washington showed no ill effects from missing Wednesday’s game with a sprained ankle as she hit 8-of-17 shots from the floor and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. Junior Ramona Wright hit for 15 points and sophomore Alicia Durham grabbed 10 rebounds and collected a career-high seven steals. Francis Marion was led by Danielle Moore and Vaughn Bowen, who each scored 10 points.

The Pirates return to action on Wednesday, January 21, as they travel to Kennesaw State for a 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference doubleheader against the Owls. Francis Marion travels to USC Aiken for a 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. PBC double dip against the Pacers.

-Pirates-