Zaria Clark has a total of 35 points for her first season as a Brave. File Photo/Andrew Thrift
By: Jacob Husson
The Braves defeated the Emmanuel Lions 70-53 on Monday. That game snapped a two-game losing streak. Gabby Smith scored 22 points on 9-15 shooting. She also went 4-6 from the free throw line. Naomi Gilbert scored 17 on 6-11 shooting including 4-8 from beyond the arc. Alcenia Purnell led the team with six rebounds. As a team, they went 26-57. That included 6-22 from the three-point line. They also went 12-16 from the charity stripe and totaled 26 rebounds. They were boosted by a strong first quarter that saw them go 8-15 from the floor and five-for-five from the free throw line.
The standout performer for the Lions was Jazmin Allen who led the team with 12 points and 13 rebounds. She went five for nine from the floor and two for two from the free throw line. Jeanetta Elder also scored 10 on three for seven shooting and four for eight from the free throw line. The Lions went 17-45 from the field including 4-17 from beyond the three-point line. They went 15-21 from the free throw line and totaled 35 rebounds.
UNCP did a great job in transition as well. They scored 22 of their 70 points on the fast break. They scored 36 points in the paint as well as they were effective inside. Their bench players scored 29 points providing a big help to the starters.
UNCP’s defense was stifling as they forced 30 turnovers in the game. Alcenia Purnell led all Braves with four steals in the game. Tiara Williams and Naomi Gilbert each had two steals. Gabby Smith had the only block for the Braves.
This game was the inaugural matchup between UNCP and Emmanuel in women’s basketball.
UNCP’s next game is at home against the Lees-McRae Bobcats. They will try to keep up the stifling defense for another win.