AASU Erases 19-Point Deficit, Defeats UNCP 72-67

PEMBROKE, N.C. - The Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball team overcame a 19-point second-half deficit to pick up a 72-67 Peach Belt Conference victory on Tuesday evening over host UNC Pembroke in the league opener for both teams.

The Lady Pirates (5-1, 1-0 PBC) trailed at halftime against the Lady Braves (1-2, 0-1 PBC), 36-22, and UNC Pembroke widened that lead to 19 in the first minute of the second half on a three-point play by Chevoya Jackson, making the score 41-22 with 19:06 left.

AASU started its comeback midway through the second half. A pair of Portia Jones three-pointers as well as 14 points from reigning PBC Player of the Week Lacey Willis in a six minute stretch winnowed the UNC Pembroke lead to just two, 56-54, with 7:30 left in the contest.

The Lady Pirates would take the lead for good on another three-pointer by Jones with 4:05 remaining, putting AASU on top, 60-58, and Lindsey Holmes would make 4-of-4 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.

Willis finished the night with a game-high 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-3 three-pointers, before fouling out with 44 seconds remaining. Dartayvia Thomas set a new career high with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-4 three-pointers, while Jones also set a career high with 15 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting.

UNC Pembroke was led by Chevoya Jackson's 15 points and Marquena Delk's 11 points. AASU shot 51 percent from the floor (25-of-49), incluidng 47.8 percent from three-point range (11-of-23), while the Lady Braves hit just 5-of-21 from beyond the arc (23.8 percent).

The Lady Pirates return to action on Saturday, December 6, when they host No. 10-ranked USC Aiken at 2:00 p.m. at Alumni Arena.