FMU women’s basketball listed in final NCAA stats

FLORENCE, S.C. – For the second year in a row, the Francis Marion University women’s basketball team finished this past season as the top scoring team in NCAA Division II, while also leading the nation in steals and turnover margin. Several Patriot players were also listed in the end-of-the-season statistical report.

The Patriots, in their second year under head coach Heather Macy, posted a 27-5 record, finished with a No. 14 national ranking, won a second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and made their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. FMU won two games in the Southeast Regional and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in team history.

The Patriots averaged 88.1 points per game, 19.4 steals per game, and owned a turnover margin of 10.69 per game to lead those categories. Last year, FMU recorded averages of 89.3 points per game and 18.5 steals per game.

Approximately 275 schools sponsor Division II women’s basketball programs.

FMU also ranked second nationally in scoring margin (+21.1 pp), seventh in won-loss percentage (.844), ninth in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.5%), 11th in assists per game (18.1), 47th in field goal percentage (43.6%), 74th in field goal percentage defense (38.0%), 78th in three-point field goals made per game (6.3), and 79th in blocked shots per game (3.3).

Individually, senior point guard Kevin Ransom ranked second nationally in steals per game with 4.5 per contest, and the Roanoke Rapids, N.C., native also ranked 19th in assists per game (5.3). As a junior she led Division II with 4.9 steals per game.

Sophomore guard Robin Colbert and senior guard Jennifer Dyer ranked 19th and 40th respectively in steals per game – Colbert at 3.2 per game and Dyer at 2.8 per contest.

Dyer was also listed at 55th in three-point field goal percentage at 37.8 percentage and 95th in three-point field goals made per game at 2.1 per contest.

Junior guard Eboni Fields ranked 78th in three-point field goal percentage (35.8%) and 95th in three-pointers made per game (2.1).

Despite leading the nation in scoring, the Patriots featured a balanced scoring attack that had five players averaging between 10.0 and 13.0 points per game. For the second straight year, FMU eclipsed the 100-point mark eight times, the most since the 1986-87 squad also accomplished that feat. The campaign was FMU’s second consecutive 20-win season and the 21st in the team’s 35-year history.