FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1-24-01

Men's Basketball: AASU 79, UNC Pembroke 71
Women's Basketball: UNC Pembroke 77, AASU 72

Courtesy UNC Pembroke Sports Information

PEMBROKE, N.C. – The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Braves and the Armstrong Atlantic State University Pirates split a Peach Belt Conference basketball doubleheader at the Jones Athletic Complex. The UNCP women rallied from a seven point second-half deficit to defeat the Pirates 77-72. In the men's game the Pirates shot 62 percent on three-pointers to defeat the Braves 79-71.

After leading for the majority of the game's first 28 minutes, the Braves found themselves down by six points with 7:51 remaining in the women's game. Over the next 3:39 the Braves went on a 10-2 run to take a 71-69 lead with 4:12 remaining. UNCP junior point guard and the Peach Belt's reigning Player of the Week Ginnell Curtis scored eight points to key the run.

The Pirates cut the lead to one with 1:36 remaining, but forward Jennifer Lance, center Candice Combs and forward Amanda Brooks combined to hit 4-of-6 free-throws on the Braves' final three possession to secure the five point win.

The Braves had five players finish in double-figure points led by Curtis' 27. In her last three games Curtis has scored 31, 30 and 27 points, respectively. Curtis added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Combs finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots. Brooks finished with 13 points and Lance finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.

The Pirates were led by forward Lori Green's double-double on 10 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Zandrique Cason added 12 points and seven rebounds, and guard Lexie Martin had 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Braves improve to 10-6 overall and 2-4 in the conference with the win. Armstrong Atlantic falls to 7-10 and 2-5.

In the men's game the Pirates shot 56 percent from the floor and 67 percent on three-pointers in the first half to take a commanding 46-28 lead at halftime. However, the Braves, who shot just 24 percent from the floor in the opening half, shot 58 percent from the floor in the second half cutting the Pirate lead to three on a three-pointer by guard Melvin Farrington with 53 seconds remaining.

On the game's next possession guard Joel Lecoeuvre hit his sixth three-pointer of the game, and fifth in the second half, to push the Pirate lead back up to six. Braves guard Jay Bruer missed a three-pointer seconds later, and Pirate guard Robert Campbell secured the rebound and was fouled. Campbell hit both free-throws to secure the win for Armstrong.

The Pirates had five players finish in double-figure points. Lecoeuvre finished with a game high 20 points. Campbell finished with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists. Guard Mick Jordan had 13 points, guard Donta Humphries had 11 points and forward Tavares Brown had 10 points. The Pirates finished the game shooting 53 percent from the floor and 62 percent on three-pointers.

The Braves were led by Bruer's 16 points and six assists. Farrington was the Braves' leading scorer with 19 points. Center Adrian Prioleau finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, and power forward Mark Schmitz finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

The Braves fall to 5-11 overall and 2-4 in the conference with the loss. The Pirates improve to 15-5 and 7-0.

Both UNCP teams return to action this Saturday when they host Georgia College and State University in another conference doubleheader. The women tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. Armstrong will travel to conference foe Kennesaw State on Saturday. The women play at 2:00 p.m. followed by the men at 4:00 p.m.

- Pirates -