Falcons Fall in Hard Fought Contest with UNC Pembroke, 63-59

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo women's basketball team (10-8, 3-5 PBC) battled with UNC Pembroke (11-8, 5-5 PBC) the entire game as the two teams switched leads six times and never gave up a double-digit lead the entire contest. Pembroke used some key free throws down the stretch to take the 63-59 victory. The Falcons were paced by senior Alicia Lewis (Youngsville, La./Comeaux) who had 20 points and four assists. She hit six three pointers in the game which was more than the entire UNC Pembroke squad.

Juniors Carrie Parrott (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Siegel) and Shan Jones (Hartselle, Ala./Hartselle) each had nine points. Parrott added seven rebounds while Jones grabbed six. Junior Tiaren Young (Forestdale, Ala./Minor) had eight points and six boards while senior Manal Cali (Northampton, England/Northampton School for Girls) had six points and six boards.

The Lady Braves took advantage of UM's turnovers as they scored 16 points off of Montevallo's 12 turnovers. They also outscored UM 18-10 in second chance points despite the two teams having the same number of offensive rebounds.

Both teams took awhile to get their offense rolling as neither team reached double-digits until the 11:14 mark of the first half. UM took its first lead with 6:35 left in the half as Jones hit a three-pointer to put the Falcons ahead 16-15. After a pair of UNCP free throws the Falcons began a 7-0 run capped off by a three-pointer from Young. The Lady Braves responded immediately with a 12-2 run to close out the half. The Falcons headed to the locker room down 29-25.

Jones opened up the second half with four quick points to tie the game at 29. After trading blows for the next five minutes the Falcons began a 9-0 run to take a 44-38 lead with 11:43 remaining. UM held that lead for the next six minutes until the Lady Braves began a 13-2 run that spanned almost five minutes and left the Falcons down 61-56 with just 18 seconds to play. A three-pointer by Lewis cut the Lady Braves lead to just two. After UNCP missed the front-end of a one-and-one the Falcons grabbed the rebound and called timeout.

On the next possession a Falcons player was tripped up and called for traveling which gave the Lady Braves a second chance at the free throw line. UNCP converted on both free throws to end the game 63-59.

The Falcons have a short turnaround as they begin preparation for their Sunday match-up with nationally-ranked Francis Marion University. The 17^th-ranked Patriots are 16-2 overall and 8-1 in PBC play.