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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The top two seeds in the 2025 Atlantic Casualty Insurance Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Championship advanced to the championship with semifinal wins on Saturday. Francis Marion University topped Young Harris College 78-44 and Belmont Abbey defeated Chowan University 64-54.
Francis Marion advances to the title game for the first time since 2021-22.
No. 1 Francis Marion defeats No. 5 Young Harris 78-44
Francis Marion used a pair of runs in the first quarter to take a 22-9 lead after the opening 10 minutes. The Patriots scored 10 straight to lead 13-2 and later went on a 7-0 spurt to take a 20-3 lead following the 17-3 overall run. Francis Marion then scored the first nine points of the second quarter and led 46-23 at the half. The Patriot lead grew to 56-25 before the Mount Lions rolled off 12 straight points to close the quarter. Francis Marion led 56-37 going to the fourth quarter. The Patriots again extended their lead and eventually took the contest 78-44.
Kiana Lee led four Francis Marion scorers in double figures with 18 points and nine rebounds. Kennedi Simmons added 14 points while Kiara Croskey scored 13 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Kamryn Bates lead Young Harris with 10 points while Annalise Malone scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
No. 2 Belmont Abbey defeated No. 3 Chowan 64-54
Belmont Abbey jumped out to a 9-5 lead, but Chowan closed the period on a 7-0 run to hold a 12-9 advantage after 10 minutes. The second quarter was played within four points as Belmont Abbey used a 5-0 run to take a 26-25 lead in the final minute. Chowan’s Yasmine Brown made a triple in the waning seconds to give the Hawks a 28-26 lead at the break. The contest was even at 39 heading to the fourth quarter when Belmont Abbey scored the first 10 points of the quarter. The Crusaders held that lead throughout the quarter to take the contest 64-54.
Peyton Nation led Belmont Abbey with 10 points and nine rebounds while Janiah Shular pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with 10 points. Nyeshia Savage led Chowan with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Belmont Abbey advances to the championship game for the fifth time in the last seven years, including each of the last three. The Crusaders won the title in 2021-22.
2025 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Championship
First Round – Sunday, March 2 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 9 Barton 64, No. 10 Converse 56 (at No. 4 UNC Pembroke)
Box Score
No. 8 King 57, No. 11 Lees-McRae 49 (at No. 5 Young Harris)
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No. 12 North Greenville 54, No. 7 Emmanuel 45 (at No. 6 Shorter),
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Second Round – Monday, March 3 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 4 UNC Pembroke 84, No. 9 Barton 35
Box Score
No. 5 Young Harris 54, No. 8 King 47
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No. 6 Shorter 53, No. 12 North Greenville 36
Box Score
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 7 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 5 Young Harris 75, No. 4 UNC Pembroke 67 (OT)
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Young Harris Press Conference
No. 3 Chowan 57, No. 6 Shorter 52
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Chowan Press Conference |
Shorter Press Conference
Semifinals – Saturday, March 8 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 1 Francis Marion 78, No. 5 Young Harris 44
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Francis Marion Press Conference |
Young Harris Press Conference
No. 2 Belmont Abbey 64, No. 3 Chowan 54
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Belmont Abbey Press Conference
Final – Sunday, March 9 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 1 Francis Marion vs. No. 2 Belmont Abbey, 1:00 p.m.