Caitlin Clark wasn’t the only one to set a new NCAA record Thursday night.
Francis Marion’s Lauryn Taylor set the national record — for Division I, II and III — with 44 rebounds in the Division-II game that saw the Patriots pull away with a 85-62 victory over North Greenville.
The 5-foot-11 center controlled the glass, grabbing 30 defensive boards and 14 offensive rebounds to set the single-game record.
Taylor — a senior from Blythewood, S.C. — surpassed her previous season-best rebounding total of 21, which she set against Lees-McRae on Jan. 13.
In doing so, Taylor bested the old NCAA record of 40 rebounds set by Delta State’s Deborah Temple in a Division-I matchup against Alabama-Birmingham almost exactly 41 years ago on Feb. 14, 1983.
She also broke the university’s rebound record of 32, which was held by LaRue Fields in a victory over South Carolina in 1976.
The senior surpassed the initial Division-II mark of 36 boards that was set by former West Virginia Tech player Christine DeSaine in a game against Ohio Valley in 1995, too.
The current Division-III record sits at 38 rebounds.
Taylor started Thursday by grabbing 16 boards in the opening quarter.
She also set a new career-high 34 points across 26 minutes to secure her 18th double-double of the season.
Taylor leads her team, averaging 18.5 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 45.3 percent from the field.
The Patriots (17-6) currently hold the top seed in the Conference Carolinas, going 12-2 against their conference foes.
They have four games remaining in the regular season before the CC tournament begins on March 3.
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