AMERICUS – The Georgia Southwestern women's basketball team played against Peach Belt Conference opponent Flagler College on Saturday afternoon in the Storm Dome. After a close game from tip to the final horn, Flagler came out with the win 67-64.
The Lady 'Canes still lead the all-time record between the schools 4-3. Flagler College improves to 6-9, 4-4 PBC. The Lady Canes move onto a 6-8, 1-6 PBC record.
This game was determined by which team could make the least amount of turnovers. GSW committed 27 compared to Flagler's 25 turnovers. Flager was able to get 22 points off of turnovers, while GSW was only able to get 20. The Lady Saints were also able to get away with 15 steals over the game, while the Lady 'Canes had 12.
It was freshman Tanyetta Hill's first game starting for the Lady 'Canes and she came away with the first basket for GSW. Between Flagler's Latesha Johnson and Williesha Spencer the Lady Saints got away to a lead 12-6 at 14:24. GSW seniors Ottishia Burden and Shaniece Sheffield went on a scoring run to bring the score to 12-14 at 11:03. The score continued to teeter between the teams for the reminder of the half in the same fashion. The half time score had Flagler leading by two, 36-34.
During the first half, Sheffield had contributed 10 points, two steals, and no turnovers. Shatoria Hudson and Shanedra Lockett contributed six points each at half as well. Flagler's Spencer had 12 points, not even half of her final score.
Flagler's Spencer took matters into her own hands. By 10:22, Spencer had 10 of the 15 points scored by the Lady Saints. Meanwhile, Jasmine McSwain and Hill delivered seven and four points, respectively, during the first three minutes of the half. Sierra Barrino-Kennedy made an old-fashioned three-point play to tie the game at 56-56 at 7:42. By 3:07 Hudson was able to tie up the game at 63-63 after two made layups. Flagler was able to make four more points by the end of the game, where Danisha Green was left to make a four point play from the free throw line. Green made her first free throw, and then GSW called a timeout. Green missed her second free throw and Flagler grabbed the rebound and held on until the clock ran out. The final score of the game was Flagler 67-64.
GSW finished the game scoring 41.9% from the field and 83.3% from the free throw line. Hudson was 8-for-11 from the field, making 16 points and grabbing a team high of eight rebounds. Hudson only committed two turnovers during the game, but contributed two blocks and three steals. Green finished the game with three points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. As one of GSW's point guards, Green did a good job keeping her turnovers to only three. Sheffield added 13 points and McSwain contributed 11 points.
Flagler's Spencer finished the game with 26 points (10-for-26), nine turnovers, and five rebounds and steals.
The Lady Hurricanes will be back at home on Monday, January 20th, to play PBC opponent Armstrong at 5:30 p.m.