YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Francis Marion University scored 16 unanswered points in the opening minutes of the game en route to a 65-44 Peach Belt Conference women's basketball victory over Young Harris College Saturday (Jan. 16) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.
 
The Patriots improved to 14-3 overall and to 5-3 in the league while the Mountain Lions fell to 7-8 and 2-6. Young Harris travels to Augusta, Georgia, Monday for a 1:30 p.m. PBC matinee against Augusta University.
 
Young Harris took a 2-0 lead three minutes into the game on a jumper in the paint by Sarah Garner; however, Francis Marion responded on a Camille Dash jumper 12 seconds later to tie the game at 2. That jumpstarted a 16-0 run for the Patriots, who scored 21 points off 22 YHC turnovers, that saw them open up a 16-2 lead on a steal and layup by Shaunice Fulmore with 2:39 left in the quarter.
 
"We got off to a rough start and they made some shots," said YHC basketball coach Matt Stearsman. "It kind of deflated us. I thought we were ready to play today. Then the second and third quarters we were terrific. That is a good basketball team and they were the reason we struggled in the first and fourth quarters. I still think our team is real close to being good. We just have to find a way to get the ball in the basket. We are defending like our feet are on fire, but we are just struggling on the other end."
 
Francis Marion opened up its largest lead of the half – 22 points (41-19) - after Fulmore hit two free throws with 2:35 remaining. Young Harris got a three-pointer from Jada Williams and a Sara Jorgensen layup to close within 17 points (41-24) at the half.
 
The Mountain Lions, who held the Patriots scoreless the first 5:14 of the second half, used a 10-4 run to close within 11 points (45-34) on a Jasmine Knight layup with 1:36 left in the third quarter.  Young Harris couldn't get any closer and the Patriots were able to lead by as many as 26 points (63-37) in the final quarter.
 
Dash paced the Patriots with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Fulmore added 12 points and three steals. Alaysia Watts recorded a double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while Khayani Chandler added 10 points.
 
Meredith Tarver led the Mountain Lions with nine points while Jenny Vernet grabbed nine rebounds. Garner and Jorgensen each added six points.