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YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.  |  Shaunice Fulmore scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Francis Marion University recorded  a 52-46 victory over Young Harris College in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Saturday (Dec. 30) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Patriots improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the PBC, while the Mountain Lions fell to 4-8 and 1-4. Young Harris returns to action on Wednesday (Jan. 3) as they travel to Morrow, Georgia, to take on Clayton State University in a 5:30 p.m. PBC contest. 

Francis Marion only managed three field goals in the first quarter but took advantage of fouls by Young Harris and went 9-of-11 at the free throw line for a 16-11  lead after the quarter.

Eryn Cochran hit four free throws in the second quarter while Ge'Naisha Robinson and Briana Bell both hit two. Young Harris went almost 10 minutes without a basket before Sara Jorgensen nailed a three-pointer at the 1:42 minute mark of the second quarter to bring the Mountain Lions within five points (27-22).

Cochran hit back-to-back jumpers to give the Mountain Lions their first lead of the game at 31-27 after a Cochran trey with 6:50 remaining in the third quarter. Tatyana McClaney posted back-to-back layups to give the Patriots a 36-33 lead with 63 seconds remaining in the period. Sarah Garner converted a layoff on an out-of-bounds play as the third quarter horn sounded and cut the FMU lead to one at 38-37.

The Mountain Lions retook the lead at 9:18 mark of the fourth quarter as Cochran converted a three-pointer; however, Francis Marion used a 9-1 run over the next four minutes to open up a 47-41 lead on a Fulmore jumper. The Mountain Lions got as close as a point (47-46) as Briana Bell hit two free throws with 1:37 to play, but Young Harris didn't score the remainder of the game. 

"What a battle," said YHC head coach Matt Stearsman."We executed our game plan perfectly, but we just couldn't buy a basket. We get a little better every game. I like how we are playing, obviously you'd like to get some wins, but it isn't for a lack of effort." 

The Patriots used a jumper in the paint by Keanau Williams and two Fulmore free throws to extend their lead to five points (51-46) with 41 seconds remaining,

Khai Chandler had 12 points and six rebounds for the Patriots, who only connected on 27.9 percent (17-of-61) from the floor. Kristin Tines grabbed 19 rebounds and recorded four blocks for Francis Marion. 

Cochran led the scoring for Young Harris, which shot 18.3 percent (13-of-71) from the field, with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Bell had eight points and three rebounds. Garner finished the game with a career-high 21 rebounds - one shy of the Young Harris College record.