AMERICUS, Ga. — Georgia Southwestern saw Georgia College & State University pull away late as the Bobcats closed the game on a decisive fourth-quarter run to hand the Lady Hurricanes a 61-51 Peach Belt Conference setback Saturday evening inside Storm Dome.
After GSW led for more than 29 minutes of game time and carried a three-point advantage into the final period, Georgia College used a 13-3 stretch midway through the fourth quarter and held the Lady Hurricanes to five points in the period to seize control and secure its second straight win in the series after GSW had won the previous 12 matchups.
Hurricanes Control Early Pace
Georgia Southwestern set the tone early, opening the game on the front foot and building a 15-9 lead after one quarter. The Lady Hurricanes continued to dictate play in the second period, shooting 58 percent from the floor and extending the advantage to as many as 13 points, before taking a 31-24 lead into the locker room at the half.
Ray'ven Robinson paced the offense in the opening half, attacking the paint and finishing through contact as GSW consistently found ways to score inside.
Robinson Leads the Way
Robinson led GSW with 19 points, finishing 7-of-15 from the field while adding three rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 39 minutes.
Kassidy Neal added six points and six rebounds, while
Makenzie Kelly chipped in six points and knocked down a pair of three-pointers as the Lady Hurricanes connected on six triples for the game.
Momentum Turns After the Break
Georgia College steadily chipped away in the third quarter, outscoring GSW 19-15 to trim the margin to two entering the final 10 minutes. The Bobcats then opened the fourth quarter with increased defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and capitalizing at the free-throw line.
Georgia College went 10-for-12 at the stripe in the fourth quarter, finishing the night with 23 made free throws, the most by a GSW opponent this season.
Numbers Reveal the Difference
Several season trends surfaced in the loss for the Lady Hurricanes. Georgia Southwestern finished with eight assists and 16 defensive rebounds, both season lows, while committing 24 turnovers.
The Lady Hurricanes have now committed 59 turnovers across their last two Peach Belt Conference games, leading to 24 points off turnovers for Georgia College on Saturday.
Despite staying within striking distance late, GSW managed just five points in the fourth quarter, allowing the Bobcats to pull away in the final minutes.
With the loss, Georgia Southwestern moves to 7-5 overall and 3-2 in Peach Belt Conference play, while Georgia College improves to 5-8 overall and 1-4 in league action.
Next Up
The Lady Hurricanes wrap up their four-game homestand on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against Lander University.
