Mealing helps Glusko win in debut as Patriots’ coach 78-68

FAYETTEVILLE, NC – First-year head coach Kate Glusko won in her debut on the Francis Marion University bench as sophomore guard Courtney Mealing scored a career-high 27 points and the Patriots downed Fayetteville State University 78-68, Friday evening (Nov. 12) in women’s college basketball action.

The match-up featured a pair of programs that were in last year’s NCAA Division II national tournament.  FMU (1-0) will return to action on Nov. 23 when the Patriots host Morris College at 5:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the men’s team.

Mealing connected on 10-of-20 shots, including 6-of-10 three-point attempts.  Senior Shannon Singleton-Bates added 21 points and seven rebounds, while senior point guard Robin Colbert tallied 10 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals.  Senior 6-0 center Danelle Downs scored six points and hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

A trio of Mealing treys gave the Patriots a 9-1 advantage four minutes into the contest.  FSU rallied and eventually tied the score at 22-22.  Francis Marion scored nine unanswered points to lead 31-22, and a Mealing three-point with seven seconds left before intermission gave FMU a 34-25 halftime lead.

The Patriots would gradually pull away in the second stanza leading by 18 points on several occasions.  The margin grew to 21 at 64-43 following a fast-break lay-up by Mealing with 10:20 left.  The Lady Broncos ran off 11 straight points to close to within 64-54 with 6:12 remaining, but a Singleton-Bates lay-up broke the drought and the Patriots would go on to the 10-point win.

Francis Marion scored 27 points off 29 Fayetteville State turnovers.

Center Tiffany Haywood led FSU with 17 points and seven rebounds.