FLORENCE — Fayetteville State returns most of its players from an NCAA tournament team a year ago, so Francis Marion women’s basketball coach Heather Macy figured her team would be tested Wednesday night at Smith University Center.
But if there is one thing Macy has done better than winning conference games in her two-plus seasons at FMU, it’s winning non-conference games.
The Patriots improved to 16-0 in those games under their third-year coach by turning a close game at halftime into a 91-61 win.
“We want every night to prepare for the NCAA tournament and I thought this game was a big test,” Macy said. “I was pleased with our pressure. I thought we played well.”
Indeed, the Broncos showed up to play their season opener. They led five times in the first half before the Patriots (2-0) pulled ahead 42-39 at halftime.
The Broncos then ran into a problem that most teams encounter when playing Francis Marion. They’re just not as deep and, eventually, FMU’s pressure defense took its toll.
The Patriots turned a 50-47 lead into a 71-53 advantage over a seven-minute span to blow the game open.
It was 61-53 after FSU’s Danielle Russell sank a pair of free throws with 11:47 left, but the Patriots scored the next 10, including a pair of baskets by Shannon Singleton-Bates, who finished with 14 points. The Patriots’ Precious Tucker led all scorers with 17.
Francis Marion scored 56 points off 51 Fayetteville State turnovers, the second time in as many games the Patriots have forced at least 50 miscues. Converse had 55 on Sunday.
“I thought we were really in the passing lanes,” Macy said.
FMU took 44 shots in the first half, but made only 14 for 31.8 percent. That number improved significantly in the second half, though. FMU was 21-of-49 (43 percent) over the final 20 minutes.
“I told them, ‘Listen, we’re getting a ton of shots, if we can just relax a little bit,’” Macy said. “When this team starts clicking on all cylinders and we’re getting that many shots, we’re going to be really, really tough to beat.”
Tress Aughburns, Tiffany Haywood and L’oreal Price each had 11 points for Fayetteville State.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement