GC Women’s Basketball 68-58 Winners over Shorter in Nighthawk Classic

DAHLONEGA, Ga. (GCSU RELEASE) – The Georgia College women’s basketball team (2-0) is off to a good start this season after winning their second-consecutive outing, this one against Shorter University (1-2) 68-58 at Memorial Hall in the Nighthawk Classic Tournament Friday afternoon.

Junior Belinda Schaafsma’s (Momence, Ill.) two layups erased a one-point deficit and put the Bobcats up by three points with 13:34 left in the second half. Georgia College then outscored the Lady Hawks 22-15 down the stretch to earn the win. Seeing her first action of the season, Schaafsma finished with five points and five rebounds.

For the second time in as many games, senior Brandi McKinney (Cincinnati) came off the bench to lead the team in scoring with another 20-point outing in 28 minutes of playing time. She also led the team with six boards and went 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.

“It was a hard-fought win against a good team,” said head coach Maurice Smith. “I thought our ladies did a good job on the defensive end today. Our defense ultimately won the game for us, getting key stops when we needed them the most.”

Junior Shanteona Keys (Roswell, Ga.) had a solid all-around game, contributing 14 points with team co-highs in blocks and steals with two apiece while adding five boards and two assists. Senior Thresia Elskamp (Potosi, Wis.) led the Bobcats in assists with four and also scored four points and grabbed four rebounds.

The game went back-and-forth in the first half with the teams tied five separate times in the first 11:35 of play before the Bobcats finished the half with a 10-point lead at 38-28.

Less than five minutes into the second half, the Lady Hawks stormed back to take a 43-42 lead that served to be a wakeup call as Georgia College then registered the next 26 of the game’s final 41 points for the win.

Former Bobcat Karisma Boykin (20 points) and Ieshia Alexander (11 points) accounted for more than half of Shorter’s offensive output.

The Bobcats hope to extend their win streak to three tomorrow against North Greenville University in another Nighthawk Classic matchup slated for 2 p.m.