February 3, 2010

Box Score

MILLEDGEVILLE, GA – The North Georgia women’s basketball team saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday evening, fighting in the final seconds, but coming up short in a 59-56 decision at Georgia College & State University in Peach Belt Conference action at the Centennial Center.

The Lady Saints fall to 8-11 overall on the season and 3-7 in the Peach Belt Conference, while the Bobcats improve to 15-5 overall and extend their lead atop the league’s west Division at 8-2 in conference action.

Down the stretch, GCSU held a six-point lead with just 20 seconds remaining on a three-pointer from Chimere Jordan, but North Georgia was far from done as Janyce Ealey went the length of the floor and converted a three-point play the old fashioned way to pull the Lady Saints to within three points with 11 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing inbounds pass, Tammeshia Law committed the turnover and Meredith Montgomery picked up the steal as head coach Buffie Burson called a timeout to draw up the final play. As the seconds ticked down, Ealey drove to the left side and came back out to fire up a three-pointer that came up short as GCSU grabbed the rebound and the victory at 59-56.

The first half saw a pair of ties and lead changes as both teams led by as many as six points during the first period, a margin the Lady Saints carried into the locker room at halftime leading 24-18.

In the second half, the Bobcats slowly crept back into the game and took their first lead of the half with 12:50 remaining as Law hit a pair of free throws to give GCSU a one-point advantage at 37-36. The home team led by as many as 10 points in the game, taking the double-digit lead with 6:36 remaining before North Georgia rallied late, but came up short in the final possession.

Whitney Randolph continued to pace the Lady Saints, scoring 16 points and pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds for a double-double, while Montgomery added 11 points and four assists. Tiffany Marlow was the only other North Georgia player in double figures, recording a double-double with 10 points and as many rebounds off the bench.

Three GCSU players finished in double figures, led by Shandrea Moore who tallied a game-high 17 points, while adding eight steals, while Jordan chipped in 14 points, and Dominique Huffin added 12.

North Georgia shot 32.8 percent from the field, 14.3 percent from long range, and 62.5 percent from the free throw line, while the bobcats were 33.9 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from behind the arc, and just 50 percent from the charity stripe, missing nine free throws.

The Lady Saints return to action on Saturday afternoon, playing host to in-state rival Columbus State University as the two teams meet for the second time this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall against the Cougars.