FLORENCE, SC – Senior forward Precious Tucker scored a season-high 18 points and Francis Marion University closed the first half on a 27-5 run to down local-rival Coker College 106-48, Saturday afternoon (Nov. 21) in women’s college basketball action.<br /> <br />The Patriots remain unbeaten this season (3-0) and in non-conference games (17-0) in three seasons under head coach Heather Macy.  FMU also extends its series lead over Coker to 31-3, including nine straight wins.<br /> <br />Tucker also hauled down seven rebounds, while hitting on 9-of-13 shots.  Senior forward Nicole Mealing also came off the Patriot bench and tallied 17 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Eboni Fields scored 14 and Shana Franks and Shannon Singleton-Bates added 10 points apiece.  Point guards Robert Colbert and Monica Mann each dished out eight assists.<br /> <br />Senior forward Henna Koponen and sophomore guard Jasmine Alston led Coker (0-3) with nine points each, while 6-0 freshman center Jaime Birr added eight points off the Lady Cobra bench.<br /> <br />Francis Marion struggled in the early going as the Patriots missed on 13 of their first 17 shots from the floor and the score was deadlocked at 9-9 with 15:21 left before halftime.  FMU gradually pulled out to a 27-15 margin with 7:33 left on the clock.<br /> <br />Mealing and her younger sister Courtney Mealing then combined to score the next six points as Francis Marion used a 14-0 run to go ahead 41-15.  Altogether, FMU outscored Coker 27-5 over the final 7:33 to lead 54-20 at halftime.<br /> <br />In the second stanza, Francis Marion connected on 23-of-41 field goal attempts (56.1%) and was never threatened.  A layup by freshman guard Kristen Dickerson provided the game’s final points, which equaled the largest lead of the day (58 points).<br /> <br />Francis Marion converted 44 Coker turnovers into 56 points and held a 70-18 advantage in points-in-the-paint.  The Patriots have now forced 150 turnovers in their opening three contests. <br /> <br />Francis Marion will play host to St. Augustine’s College on Friday at 2 p.m., while Coker will entertain Erskine College on Monday at 5:30 p.m.<br />