UNCP wins doubleheader opener

The UNCP women’s basketball team defeated Georgia Southwestern on Feb. 3, 52-47 in the first game of the homecoming doubleheader.            

The win moves the Braves to 10-12 overall with six-straight wins, 7-4 in the Peach Belt Conference, and to the top spot in its North Division. Georgia Southwestern fell to 2-16 overall and 0-10 in the PBC.

Near disappointment

The Braves nearly squandered an 18-point lead at 11:19 left in the second half as GSW climbed back to a five-point deficit with 30 seconds left. Ivy Ramsey sealed the game for the Braves by making two free-throw shots with seven seconds left.            

UNCP Head Coach John Haskins wasn’t pleased with the level of his team’s play after their spurt to create the large lead. 

“And after that, we were as bad as we can be,” Haskins said.            

The Braves played excellent defense in the early portions of the game by holding the Hurricanes to five points in the first 11 minutes. But Haskins said that he didn’t expect them to stay down for long and their shots would eventually start falling.

Offensive struggles

Poor shooting plagued both teams as UNCP shot just 33 percent from the field while GSW shot 25 percent. Haskins also appeared astonished at the Braves’ 3-21 effort from the three-point line as many of those attempts were open looks.            

“We didn’t quite play with the energy, intensity and enthusiasm we could have,” Haskins said.

UNCP starting guard Porcha Locklear stood out by scoring a game-high 14 points and making two three-point shots.             Angela Lamb led the Hurricanes in scoring with 11 points in 17 minutes of play.

The Braves are now a full game up in the PBC North Division to USC-Aiken with five games to go in the season.