Wingate, N.C.----The Francis Marion University Patriots outscored Wingate University 40-28 in the second half Tuesday night, erasing a five-point halftime deficit en route to a 61-54 victory in NCAA Division II women's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. The Patriots move to 1-0 on the year, while the 'Dogs fall to 1-2 overall.

KEY STATS

- Francis Marion shot 45.8 percent from the field; Wingate shot just 29.8 percent
- The 'Dogs were just seven-of-28 from the field in the second half (25 percent)
- The Patriots hit five-of-11 shots from three-point range (45.5 percent)
- Wingate hit just one-of-14 from beyond the arc (7.1 percent)
- The Bulldogs won the rebounding battle 39-34
- The 'Dogs scored 17 points off 22 FMU turnovers
- Wingate had 15 steals on the night while the Patriots collected 14 steals
- Wingate was 19-for-27 (70.4 percent) at the free throw line; FMU was 12-for-22 (54.5 percent)
- Francis Marion outscored the Bulldogs 21-12 in the third quarter
- Wingate held a 24-22 edge in points in the paint

KEY BULLDOGS

- Courtney Robinson had 13 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals
- Jordan Quick had 12 points and six rebounds
- Caroline Averette had 11 points, going seven-for-seven at the free throw line
- Danasia Witherspoon registered five points, nine boards and six steals
- Teliyah Jeter had six points, nine rebounds and two blocks

KEY PATRIOTS

- Shaunice Fulmore had 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals
- Alliyah Gillespie added 15 points, hitting four-of-five shots from three-point range
- Briana Burgins contributed 13 points, six boards and four steals
- De'Ja Marshall had 11 points and six rebounds

NOTES

- Wingate falls to 9-5 all-time against the Patriots
- First win in five tries for Francis Marion in Cuddy Arena
- Field goal percentage matches the season low from last year
- Averette has scored in double figures every game this season and six straight games overall
- Jeter has pulled down at least nine boards in every contest this year

FIRST QUARTER

- Two Averette free throws gave the 'Dogs an early 6-2 lead
- A Tatyana McClaney layup at the 4:25 mark tied it at eight
- A Robinson three and Averette three-point play put WU on top 14-10
- A Zaria Woods jumper in the final minute go the Patriots within two at 14-12

SECOND QUARTER

- A Robinson bucket and Jo Snow free throw put the 'Dogs up 18-12 early in the quarter
- A 6-0 run, highlighted by buckets from Makenzie Crump, Robinson and Jeter made it 24-13
- FMU ended the half on an 8-2 run, making it 26-21 on Gillespie's free throw with three second left

THIRD QUARTER

- Quick's layup put the Bulldogs back on top by six at the 7:11 mark
- FMU closed the quarter on a 13-6 run, with Fulmore's buzzer-beater giving the Patriots a four-point lead

FOURTH QUARTER

- A Fulmore layup extended the lead to eight, but Witherspoon answered with a bucket
- The Patriots scored eight straight points, getting threes from Gillespie and Fulmore to go on top by 14
- Wingate countered with a 6-0 run, making it 56-50 on Jeter's layup at the 2:19 mark
- A Snow jumper with 48 second left got the 'Dogs within five, but that would be the closest they would get

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday at Johnson C. Smith at 2 p.m.
- The 'Dogs return home next Tuesday, hosting Lander at 7 p.m.