FLORENCE, S.C. – The Jaguars went behind late Saturday afternoon to drop a close Peach Belt Conference game to Francis Marion 70-66 in Florence, S.C.

GRU's (9-15, 5-12) Lonna Turner, Kelsey Fynaardt, Brooke McCants, Becky Newhouse, and Whitney Rohrbach started the Jags out against the Patriots. The Pats (12-12, 7-11) lead by as much as nine in the opening minutes of the first half, but a Becky Newhouse jumper cut it to one just over 10 minutes. The Jags never let FMU runaway in the first half as Whitney Rohrbach hit a 3-pointer with 2:45 to go to keep the game close. Freshman Tavia Sykes made two free throws and sunk a deep trey to bring her team within striking distance, down 39-36 at the break.

Newhouse led the Jags with 14 first-half points and tied the game in the second half with a jumper at the 17:00 minute mark. She was fouled on the play and made the free throw to give GRU their first lead of the day, but the Pats went back up from Cy'erra Mills' layup. There was no scoring for the next three minutes to go into a media timeout with FMU holding the lead. Out of the pause, Rohrbach got a steal which lead to a J' Ashby layup for a one point GRU lead.

The game stayed within three for the next few possessions as both teams capitalized upon each other's turnovers. The Pats had 21 turnovers and GRU 16 with 8:00 to go in the game. Marissa Mandeldove put her team up by one with two free throws and the Jags lead 61-60 until Erin Pinkett nailed a trey to give FMU a 63-61 lead that they never relinquished.

Mills made four three in the closing seconds to seal a 70-66 PBC victory as FMU outscored GRU 31-30 in the second half. The Pats shot 50.0 percent from the field to GRU's 46.4 and outrebounded the Jags 32-to-25. Newhouse lead GRU and all-scorers with 19 points, Mandeldove and Ashby each had 14 and Rohrbach grabbed four rebounds, dealt five assists and scored eight points.

The Jaguars host rival USC Aiken this Wednesday, Feb. 26 for a 5:30 p.m. PBC start in Christenberry Fieldhouse.