Diamond Fredrick cheers from the sidelines with fellow teammates helping to build the excitement. PN Photo/Mahala Treish
to/Mahala Treish
By: Nicole Cook, Reporter
The women’s basketball team’s season has been going well so far. The Braves moved up in the conference this past week after their win against Emmanuel and are now ranked fifth overall in Conference Carolinas play. Their record stands at 13-8-0 as of Feb. 9. This is what you might have missed:
Pembroke @ Francis Marion, Jan. 26
The Braves took on the Patriots on the road and loss by a final score of 79-74. It was a tight game with a first quarter score of 17 -17. The Patriots outscored the Braves in the second quarter 16-15. The Patriots outscored the Braves in the second half 46-42. Courtney Smith and Gabby Smith had a game-high with 20 points each. Alcenia Purnell contributed with 14 points and a game-high 7 assists. Zaria Clark recorded a team-high 6 rebounds. The Brave’s shot 88% from the free throw line, making 16-18 attempts.
Emmanuel vs. Pembroke, Jan. 29
UNCP defeated the Lions of Emmanuel College by a final score of 70-64. Emmanuel went into halftime leading 33-31, but the Braves came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Lions 39-31. Gabby Smith tied a game-high with
21 points and also recorded 2 steals. Courtney Smith scored 13 points and had a game-high in assists and rebounds, recording 8 in both statistical categories. The Braves shot 92.9% from the free-throw line, sinking 13 of their 14 attempts. The Lady Braves now boast the highest accuracy percentage for team free-throws in the conference at 77.1%.
Pembroke @ King, Feb. 4
The Tornadoes of King University hosted the Braves, with the Braves coming out on top with a final score of 84-64. The Braves were outscored 21-18 in the first quarter, but UNCP’s defense only allowed the Tornadoes to score 7 points in the second quarter, compared to UNCP’s 17. The Braves outscored King 49-36 in the second half. Courtney Smith had a game-high game 21 points and Kelci Addams tied a game-high with 6 rebounds. The Braves shot 42.9% from three-point range, making 9 of their 21 attempts.
Pembroke @ Lees-McRae, Feb. 5
Lees-McRae hosted UNCP, besting the Braves by a final score of 79-70. The Bobcats outscored the Braves in the first quarter 21-11. The Braves were never able to overcome the early offense of the Bobcats. Gabby Smith had a team-high of 20 points and 6 rebounds. Zaria Clark also recorded 6 rebounds. Alcenia Purnell contributed 6 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. The Braves made 44.4% of their three-pointers, making 8 of their 18 attempts. The next home game for the Braves is Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. against Souther Wesleyan.