BABSON PARK, Fla. (December 19, 2019) – In what was the third game in three days for the Webber International University women's basketball team, the Warriors gutted out a second straight close win in nonconference action, defeating Truett-McConnell University 72-63 on Thursday inside the Sabbagh Athletic Center.

It was also the end of the Webber Christmas Shootout and was the final game before Christmas Break for the Warriors, who wrapped up the tournament 2-1 and won their third game in four tries to get back to .500 overall on the season at 7-7. Truett-McConnell, meanwhile, fell to 6-5 overall.

Recording a double-double for the Warriors was Emmarrie Carmen, Taniya Patrick and Paris Copeland while RayGene Garner also reached double-digits in scoring.

Carmen led both teams with a career-high 17 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor while adding 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. It was the second double-double of her senior season so far.

Patrick finished with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while also adding four blocked shots. It was her second double-double in a row and was the sixth of her sophomore season overall.

Copeland had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and hit three 3-pointers while also shooting 4-for-4 from the free throw line. It was her first double-double of the season in only six games played as a junior.

Garner had 14 points and was extremely efficient shooting the ball as she finished 5-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Last but not least, Amaya Lasley finished with six points and six rebounds.

The third quarter is where the Warriors took control, turning a five-point halftime deficit at 34-29 into a three-point lead at 47-44. Webber outscored TMU 18-10 in the period and shot 41.2 percent (7-17) from the field while holding the Bears to only 18.8 percent (3-18) shooting.

Then in the fourth quarter, Webber used a 10-3 run over the first three minutes of the period to increase its advantage to 10 at 57-47 as Garner hit a jumper in the paint followed by a pair of free throws to score the final four points of the run.

However, with the Warriors up 62-52 with four and a half minutes left following an and-one by Carmen, TMU battled back to within three at 66-63 with under a minute left thanks to an 11-4 run featuring two 3-pointers.

Fortunately, the Warriors played smart basketball on their next possession and milked the shot clock before Carmen found Patrick with a beautiful post pass for the layup to make it 68-63 with only 21 ticks remaining.

From there, the Bears turned the ball over, leading to two free throws by LeAndra Franklin, her only two points of the game, with 10 seconds left to make it 70-63.

The final two free throws of the game for the Warriors came courtesy of Garner after a missed three by TMU to make the final score 72-63.

Both teams shot over 53 percent from the field in the final quarter while the Bears got back into it thanks to 4-of-7 shooting from three. The Warriors, however, were able to hold off the comeback thanks to shooting 8-of-9 from the free throw line in the quarter and making each of their last seven foul shots of the game.

After Christmas Break, the Warriors will return to the Sabbagh Athletic Center to host Dakota State University at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 30, in what will be Webber's final game before the New Year.