PEMBROKE, N.C. –
Nadiya Hairston had a season-high 19 points on 6-14 shooting and 4-10 from three-point range, but Lees-McRae women's basketball dropped a 62-45 contest to UNC Pembroke on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: UNC Pembroke –
62; Lees-McRae – 45
LOCATION: English E. Jones Center – Pembroke, North Carolina
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke (12-5/7-1); Lees-McRae (1-12/0-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Kirsten Watt answered with a layup to knot the score at two points in the first 30 seconds of the game with the Braves. Emily Barr connected on a three-pointer with 5:14 remaining in the first to give the Bobcats the 5-4 advantage.
- Layla Tillery buried a triple with 4:30 left in the opening quarter, but UNC Pembroke took the 13-11 lead after 10 minutes after going on a 6-1 run in the final 4:58 of the first.
- The Braves pushed their lead to eight points, but Hairston and the Bobcats battled back to get within at the 6:48 mark of the second quarter. UNCP took the six-point edge, 25-19, into the halftime break.
- Lees-McRae continued to play tough with the Conference Carolinas preseason favorite as Hairston scored the final five points of the third quarter. The Bobcats cut the deficit back to single digits on a three via Hairston.
- UNCP built their lead back to double digits in the fourth period and earned the 62-45 victory on their home court on Saturday.
- Hairston scored 19 points in 25 minutes off the bench for the Bobcats and Watt followed with six points. Leah Barringer recorded five points in 23 minutes of action and Tillery added four points to her season totals.
FOR THE BRAVES:
- Kalaya Hill had a game-high 21 points to lead UNCP on the day and Courtney Smith followed with 15 points off the bench. Hannah Russell joined Hill and Smith in double figures with 12 points.
- UNCP had the decisive advantage in free throws after going 20-26 from the line.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball travels to Pembroke, North Carolina for a league matchup with UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
