AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Francis Marion's Courtney Mealing drained a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation and the Patriots emerged with a 54-52 Peach Belt Conference overtime victory on Homecoming and Senior Day in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The win lifted FMU to 16-8 overall and 9-7 in the PBC. The Lady Jaguars fell to 8-17 overall and 2-15 in the league.
Senior guard Blaire Egardo led the Lady Jaguars with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, grabbed seven rebounds, and nabbed three steals. Sophomore forward Waneta Carlisle pulled down 12 rebounds and contributed seven points. Freshman guard Brooke McCants also scored in double figures with 11 and had 2 steals.
T. T. Belcher paced the Patriots with 10 points and 18 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. Mealing contributed 15 points and Robin Colbert grabbed 10 rebounds, scored nine points, blocked two shots, and nabbed four steals. FMU was without leading scorer senior guard Shannon Singleton-Bates, who did not play due to illness.
The first half ended in a 21-21 tie with both teams shooting under 30 percent for the period. In the second half, the Lady Jags built a 34-26 lead on a 3-pointer by Egardo at the 12:01 mark. The Patriots battled back, rallying to within 46-45 on a layup by Simone Trice with 1:26 remainig.
ASU senior Jarquella Woods' layup put the Lady Jags up 48-45 with 59 seconds left. Trice again scored on FMU's next possession before a Morgan Goss free throw put the Lady Jags up 49-47 with 23 ticks remaining.
Carlisle hit one of two free throws with :08 left for a 50-47 ASU lead before Mealing's heroics at the buzzer.
ASU went ahead 52-50 in overtime on two free throws from Carlisle at the 2:54 mark. Mealing drained a jumper with 2:01 left for a 52-all tie. After the teams swapped possessions, Belcher got free underneath for a layup off feed from Monica Mann with 19 seconds to go for the deciding basket.
The Lady Jags threw the ball out of bounds with :01 left without getting off a game-tying attempt.
ASU closes out the 2010-11 regular season on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Lander at 1:30 p.m., in Finis Horne Arena.
