No. 24 GC Women’s Basketball Road Win Streak Snapped by No. 19 UNG in OT

DAHLONEGA, Ga. (GCSU RELEASE) – The No. 24 Georgia College women’s basketball team (11-3, 4-3 PBC) lost an overtime thriller at No. 19 University of North Georgia (12-1, 6-0 PBC), 94-88 Wednesday night at Memorial Hall. The loss snapped the Bobcats’ road win streak at five and was the team’s second overtime loss in as many games.

“We would have liked to come out of this game with a win,” said GC women’s head coach Maurice Smith. “I was proud of the way we played in the first half and the second half. We had our chances and opportunities.”

Junior Shanteona Keys (Roswell, Ga.) scored a season-high 29 points to lead the Bobcats. Keys added seven boards and four assists and now needs 40 points to tie No. 13 all-time Allison Barry at 1,096. Keys also moved into No. 7 all-time in free throws going 5-for-5 for a career total of 338.

Junior Enisha Donley (Loganville, Ga.) scored 22, while senior Brandi McKinney (Cincinnati) registered 18 and a team-high eight boards. Freshman LaRice Walker (Franklin, Ga.) had 11 points, five boards, four assists and two blocks in a solid effort.

Georgia College trailed only nine seconds during regulation play and took a 16-point lead into the intermission at 45-31. The Nighthawks opened the first seven minutes of the second half with a 15-8 run that cut the Bobcat lead to seven, but it would take UNG 19:50 of the second half to finally draw even at 76 apiece.

In overtime, McKinney gave the Bobcats their biggest lead with a three at 81-78, but the Nighthawks went on an eight-point run and pulled away for the win.

Current Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Player of the Week Mimi Hill led all scorers with 36 while garnishing 10 boards. Cierra Jackson added 20 points and seven assists, and Stephanie Huffman led all rebounders with 16.

The Bobcats had an eight- and seven-point edge in fast-break and bench points, respectively, and out-shot the Nighthawks from outside the arc 40-20 percent.

Senior Abby Slocumb (Suwanee, Ga.) matched a season-high with four blocks, giving her eight in the last two games.

The Bobcats’ next matchup will be against GRU Augusta Monday, Jan. 20 for a PBC tilt starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Centennial Center.