FAYETTEVILLE, NC --Aniylah Bryant hit a dagger 3-pointer with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter to put Fayetteville State up 71-62, and the Broncos earned a 72-67 win over the North Carolina-Pembroke Braves at home Wednesday.
The Broncos (3-0) had two players score in double figures, led by Bryant, who had 21 points and four assists. Keayna McLaughlin added 13 points and five assists and Tayonna Robertson added nine points and two steals.
Fayetteville State utilized excellent ball movement in Wednesday's game, piling up 23 assists on 25 made field goals. Individually, Talia Trotter lent a helping hand the most for the Broncos with seven assists.
Fayetteville State forced 19 North Carolina-Pembroke turnovers while committing 13 themselves in Wednesday's game. The Broncos turned those takeaways into 19 points on the offensive end of the floor. Daziyahna Wilson led the way individually with three steals.
How It Happened
Fayetteville State started the scoring by going on a 5-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Bryant, to take an early lead with 9:14 left in the first quarter. The Broncos then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 24-20 advantage. Fayetteville State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down six shots to account for 18 of its 24 points.
The Broncos used the second period to increase their lead and entered halftime with a 38-33 edge. Fayetteville State was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 14 points.
Fayetteville State continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Trotter, to expand its lead further to 50-38 with 4:19 to go in the third. The Broncos held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 52-40 edge. Fayetteville State knocked down two three-pointers in the quarter to score six of its 14 total points.
Fayetteville State kept its lead intact before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Robertson's three, to grow the lead to 59-49 with 5:37 to go in the contest. The Braves narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Broncos still held on for the 72-67 win. Fayetteville State fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 20 points.
Game Notes
» Fayetteville State found success from three-point land, knocking down 14 treys in the game.
» The Broncos held the Braves to only 34.5 percent shooting from the field.
» The Broncos never trailed after taking a 24-20 first quarter lead.
» The Broncos put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 92 percent of made field goals.
» The Fayetteville State bench made an impact by scoring 24 points to its scoring output.
» The Fayetteville State defense forced 19 turnovers.
» Aniylah Bryant led the Broncos with a game-high 21 points.
» Fayetteville State got a team-high five rebounds from Morgan Graham.
The Broncos will be home next Monday, November 20th, facing off against the Barton Bears with tipoff beginning at 5:30.
