Box Score | Video Highlight

DAHLONEGA, GA – North Georgia College and State University saw a bid for an upset of a ranked team come up short Saturday afternoon as 19th-ranked Francis Marion University pulled away in the final minute for a 74-65 victory over the Lady Saints in PBC action.

Over 3,000 fans watched as North Georgia fell to 5-13 overall and 2-9 in the PBC, while Francis Marion continued their winning ways, picking up their seventh straight victory and improving to 16-1 overall and 9-1 in the conference.

The second half saw the Patriots and Lady Saints battle it out as Danielle Seeley put North Georgia up 54-53 with 9:04 remaining in the contest. Just 30 seconds later, Eboni Fields knocked down a pair of free throws to give FMU the lead for good. The Lady Saints pulled to within three points with 1:04 remaining, but the Patriots converted six free throws in the final 29 seconds to sneak away with the nine-point victory.

Syretha Marble’s 21 points and nine rebounds led the Lady Saints, while Seeley added 13 points on 3-4 shooting from behind the arc, and Whitney Randolph chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.

Fields led all scorers with 25 points for Francis Marion on a steller 6-8 shooting performance from long range.  Shannon Singleton-Bates and Kevina Ransom finished in double figures with 14 and 10 points respectively.

FMU was 39.3 percent from the field, while North Georgia shot 36.5 percent from the floor and the Patriots held a 45-38 rebounding edge. The two teams combined for 56 turnovers and 30 steals in the high-paced game.

North Georgia returns to action on the road, traveling to Lander University on Monday, February 2, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Greenwood, SC.