Patriots sting Yellow Jackets

FLORENCE — Fans of Francis Marion women’s basketball flock to Smith University Center expecting Patriot blowouts.

They’ve also come to expect 100-point games.

On Saturday against Allen, however, the Patriot faithful saw something not seen in nearly 22 years. Every member of No. 22 FMU’s roster scored in a 122-47 rout of the Yellow Jackets.

The point total was the most for FMU since a 128-34 win at Morris in Sumter on Feb. 13, 1988, a span of 626 games. The 75-point margin of victory was the ninth-highest in school history.

“It’s fun for the fans (for us) to score that many points,” Patriots coach Heather Macy said. “Hopefully, it will put more fans in the seats for our game against USC Aiken on Wednesday because we’re
going to need them.”

Dawn Coleman led six players in double figures with 19 points off the bench for FMU (5-0), who shot 64.1 percent (50-of-78) from the field. Precious Tucker and Courtney Mealing also came off the bench
to score 17 and 12 points, respectively.

Nicole Mealing nailed three 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. Danelle Downs followed with 13, and Eboni Fields 10.

Allen (0-7) dressed just seven players for the game. Macy took advantage of that fact by shuffling players on and off the floor, creating miscues on defense and mismatches on offense.

“We do this so we can pressure the ball more,” said Macy, whose Patriots forced 41 Yellow Jacket turnovers leading to 56 points. “It also helps us keep fresher legs on the floor.”

“I give my young ladies credit for being on the floor,” said Allen coach Frankie Jackson, whose team shot 37.5 percent (15-of-40) from the field. “FMU shuttled a lot of people in and out of the game.

“We hurt ourselves with mistakes today. We committed way too many turnovers.”

Kendra McMichael scored 13 points to lead the Yellow Jackets. Ariel Moton followed with 11 points but also had 10 turnovers.