The Patriot

Issue date: 1/8/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Tony Gloster Junior guard Shaquana Morgan shoots a running jumper during a 112-81 victory over Wingate University.

After a five-game stretch and extending their early-season record to 9-1, the women's basketball team has surpassed their previous season's record and leads the nation in points per game with an average of 97.

Junior point guard Kevina Ransom scored a career-high 21 points and recorded a school-record 11 steals to help the team beat Columbus State University, 88-74, on Jan. 6.

Ransom also tallied five assists and five rebounds during the game.

During their 97-62 Jan. 5 win over Georgia Southwestern State University, the Patriot's key to the game was to control the tempo.

"We did a good job the first 30 minutes of playing our tempo," Coach Heather Macy said.

Midway through the first half of the game, Ransom was sent to the locker room after she was scraped during a hard foul by Hurricane guard Krystal Thomas.

Though both teams committed several fouls during the game, FMU was able to capitalize on their opponent's mistakes.

Ransom, averaging 55 percent from the free-throw line, has been especially effective this season.

"Her free-throw shooting has improved," Macy said. "She's been spending extra time in the gym."

Early on, neither team was effective down low in the post, but Georgia Southwestern was able to get plenty of scoring opportunities. They, however, weren't able to make turn those possessions into points, as they turned over the ball 50 times.

"I think fatigue was an issue for them," Macy said. "They don't normally play seven or eight people (a game). They were adjusting to what we were doing."

With strong rebounding and sound defense, the Patriots were able to convert those turnovers into points.

Previous to that game, the Patriots started the New Year off with a win against Erskine College at home.

In addition to 49 forced turnovers, FMU collected 31 steals - a team high in the past 17 seasons. They also had a 32-5 advantage in fast-break points in the 91-50 win over the Lady Fleet.

On Dec. 14-15, the lady Patriots played in the Coker College Classic after a 13-day hiatus.

"We had a good two weeks of practice, and they were itching to play," Macy said. "We'd been pushing ourselves around in practice, and we were ready to play someone else."

Continued...

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