MARION – The Francis Marion High School Lady Rams outscored Sumter County 22-9 in the fourth quarter and went on to a 51-48 win over the Lady Wildcats, Friday night.

The Lady Rams (11-4, 5-0 in area play) erased a 10-point deficit against the ninth-ranked Lady Wildcats.

Junior Quenisha Arrington scored 17 of her game high 31 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lady Rams to their 11th win of the season.

“Quenisha played tremendously tonight,” Lady Rams coach Cathy Trimble said. “She plays with a whole lot of heart.”

Arrington added six steals in the fourth quarter.

“I was just responsible for getting the ball down the court and try to upset their offense by playing good defense,” Arrington said.

Marion’s defensive intensity was one key to the comeback.

“We wanted to come out in the fourth and play man-to-man pressure defense,” Trimble said.

Arrington put the Lady Rams ahead 43-42 on a lay-up with 2:48 remaining in the game. But the Lady Wildcats scored quickly to regain the advantage, before Arrington hit a three-pointer to put Francis Marion up for good.

Arrington netted 15 points in the final four minutes of the game.

The Lady Rams fell behind early. They were held scoreless for the first two minutes and the last three minutes of the first quarter.

Francis Marion missed several easy shots and turned the ball over in the second quarter, while Sumter County played an up-tempo game and opened its lead to 27-18 at the half.

The third quarter ended with the Lady Rams down 39-29, setting up the fourth quarter comeback.

Along with Arrington’s 31 points, Kristin Lipcomb grabbed 16 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds. Lipscomb also scored eight points.