DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Three Conference Carolinas teams competed on Friday at the 2025 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Southeast Regional hosted by the University of North Georgia.

No. 2 Coker defeats No. 7 Belmont Abbey 58-50 - BOX SCORE
Coker, who is ranked 21st in the WBCA Poll and 17th in the D2CSC poll opened up a 12-6 lead late in the opening quarter, but the Crusaders closed the quarter on run. Belmont Abbey scored the final seven points of the period to hold a 13-12 lead. The Crusaders, who are receiving votes in both polls opened a three-point advantaged twice in the second quarter, but Coker led 24-23 at the half.

The third quarter went back-and-forth, but Coker scored the final six points on a pair of triples to take a 38-34 lead to the final period. The Cobras scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and later led by 11 twice, the final time at 49-38, as the Crusaders started to come back. A 7-2 run pulled Belmont Abbey within 53-48 with one minute remaining, but that was all the closer the Crusaders would come as Coker won the contest 58-50.

Peyton Nation led Belmont Abbey with 15 points and six rebounds as she scored her 1,000th career point in the process. Riley James added 11 points and six rebounds. Coker was led by Shawntenna Tillman’s 14 points while Mya Wasswa added 11 points and seven rebounds. Kamara Thompson chipped in with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

No. 1 North Georgia defeats No. 8 UNC Pembroke 78-64 - BOX SCORE
North Georgia, who is ranked sixth in the WBCA poll and fifth in the D2CSC poll, and UNC Pembroke traded 6-0 runs to start the game, and the Braves later took a 16-12 lead midway through the opening 10 minutes. The Brave lead grew to 20-14 and UNC Pembroke held a 22-21 lead after the first quarter. In the middle of the second quarter, North Georgia broke a 25-25 tie with seven straight points and later led 38-29 at halftime.

The Brave deficit grew to 42-29, but UNC Pembroke came back with seven straight points and later pulled within 44-39 midway through the period. However, North Georgia pulled a way and led 59-44 going to the fourth quarter. The Nighthawk lead grew to as many as 21 as North Georgia took the contest 78-64.

Kelci Adams posted 10 points and 12 rebounds while the Braves were led by Hannah Russell’s 16 points. Anastasia Sinclair added 14 points and Tiana Spann chipped in with 13 points. Caroline Martin led North Georgia with 20 points and 14 rebounds while Emily Trushel added 19 points and eight rebounds.

No. 5 Columbus State defeats No. 4 Francis Marion 89-83 (OT) - BOX SCORE
Francis Marion got off to a hot start, taking a 10-5 lead in the opening four minutes. However, Columbus State responded with five straight points to even the tally. Columbus State then broke a 12-12 tie with seven straight points and held a 21-17 lead after the opening 10 minutes. Francis Marion, who is receiving votes in the D2CSC poll, fought back and pulled within 33-32 with four minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Cougars responded with a 9-2 run, including seven straight to extend their lead. France Marion scored the final points of the half, but trailed 46-40 at halftime.

The Columbus State lead grew to 48-40 to start the third quarter, but the Patriots fought back with five straight points. Francis Marion pulled within 54-52 with three minutes remaining in the quarter before the Cougars pushed the lead back to six. However, the Patriots scored the final five points of the quarter to pull within 60-49 going to the fourth quarter. Francis Marion grabbed the lead early in the quarter before the teams went back-and-forth for the final seven minutes. The contest was tied six times in the fourth quarter, including at 74 following a Kiara Croskey three-point play that sent the game to overtime.

In the extra session, Columbus State used a triple and three-point play to take an 80-78 lead. The Patriots evened the score before another Cougar three-point play gave Columbus State an 83-80 lead with less than one minute remaining. The Cougars then made four free throws to take an 87-83 lead before a Patriot triple. Two more Columbus State free throws made the final 89-83 in favor of the Cougars.

Kiana Lee led Francis Marion with 21 points and nine rebounds while Trinity Adams added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Kiara Croskey and Jada Richards added 14 points apeice while Trinity Delaney chipped in with 12 points. Olonna Rawls led Columbus State with 30 points and seven rebounds while Bre'Lyn Snipes added 23 points and six rebounds.