UNC Pembroke Claims 2023 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Championship

3/5/2023 6:48:04 PM

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNC Pembroke, the third seed, claimed the 2023 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Championship trophy with a 56-46 victory over top-seeded Belmont Abbey inside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on the campus of Wofford in Spartanburg on Sunday afternoon.

It is the sixth conference tournament crown for the Braves in program history, but their first as a member of NCAA Division II. UNCP will also log the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance by virtue of capturing the automatic berth out of Conference Carolinas.

A smothering defense in the first half, specifically the first quarter, helped propel the Braves to a third straight win and their first Conference Carolinas tournament title since rejoining the league last season. The Braves didn’t allow the Crusaders to make a shot from the field in the first 10 minutes and outscored The Abbey 14-2 in the quarter. UNC Pembroke led 23-14 at the half. The 14 points were a season low for the Crusaders in the first half and the 14-point deficit they faced in the second quarter was their largest of the season.

In the second half Alencia Purnell and Kalaya Hall drained back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead to 13, 31-18, at the 6:35 mark. However, Belmont Abbey finished the third quarter on a 14-3 run to cut the lead to two, 36-34, with 10 minutes to play. Catherine Hendershott converted a layup to begin the final quarter and tie the score at 36, but the Crusaders never led in the loss as the Braves scored the next six points and never looked back.

Hall finished with a game-high 21 points and was named tournament Most Outstanding Player for her efforts over the weekend. Zaria Clark joined her teammate as an all-tournament selection as she scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the championship game while Aniah McManus netted six, dished out six assists and grabbed five rebounds. She was also an all-tournament honoree. Abigail Crain, an all-tournament selection for the Crusaders, paced Belmont Abbey with 17 points in the loss while Hendershott finished with 12.

After the game Conference Carolinas recognized all seven members of the all-tournament team which are listed below.

Fans can rewatch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network and BlueFrame at conferencecarolinasdn.com.

UNC Pembroke will find out their regional opponent and location during the NCAA selection show on NCAA.com on Sunday, March 5 at 10:30 p.m.

2023 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team
Kalaya Hall, UNC Pembroke - Most Outstanding Player
Zaria Clark, UNC Pembroke
Aniah McManus, UNC Pembroke
Abigail Crain, Belmont Abbey
Taylor Stelley, Belmont Abbey
Jasmine Stanley, Francis Marion
Destiny Robinson, Chowan

2023 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Championship
First Round – Sunday, February 26
#10 North Greenville def. #7 Southern Wesleyan, 68-58, at Mount Olive (Box Score)
#9 King def. #8 Barton, 76-73, at Chowan (Box Score)

Second Round – Monday, February 27
#6 Mount Olive def. #10 North Greenville, 72-69 (Box Score)
#5 Chowan def. #9 King, 94-73 (Box Score)

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 3 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium - Spartanburg, S.C.)
#5 Chowan def. #4 Emmanuel, 65-63 (Box Score)
#3 UNC Pembroke def. #6 Mount Olive, 69-49 (Box Score)

Semifinals – Saturday, March 4 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium - Spartanburg, S.C.)
#1 Belmont Abbey def. #5 Chowan, 72-45 (Box Score)
#3 UNC Pembroke def. #2 Francis Marion, 72-68 (OT) (Box Score)

Final – Sunday, March 5 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium - Spartanburg, S.C.)
#3 UNC Pembroke def. #1 Belmont Abbey, 56-46 (Box Score)