FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Basketball team opened up their season tonight against the University of North Georgia Nighthawk at the Shaw Athletic Center. The Nighthawk got off to a strong start offensively and continued to control the pace of the game the rest of the way taking home a 76-59 victory. With the loss, the Lions fall to 0-1 on the season. 

The two teams traded points early, with Naomi Roberts scoring a few early buckets to make it 6-6. The Nighthawk pulled ahead 17-9 with 59 seconds to play in the first quarter, but a layup by Aaliyah Anderson cut the Nighthawk lead to 17-11 to end the quarter. In the first quarter, the Lions shot 4-13 from the field (30.8%), shooting 75% from the charity stripe. 

Early in the second quarter, Breelyn Wood cut the Nighthawk lead to 4 points with two made free-throws. North Georgia responded quickly with back-to-back threes to go up ten, 23-13. The Lions roared back with a 5-0 run, made up of a three-pointer by Kate Jackson and a layup by Roberts to make it 23-18 with 6:30 to play in the quarter. North Georgia continued to stay hot from beyond the arc to go up 29-20 with 3:56 to play but Natalee Goff answered with a three of her own to cut the lead to 29-23 heading into the break. In the second quarter, the Lions shot 2-4 from beyond the arc (50%) and 4-4 from the foul line. 

Naomi Roberts opened up the scoring in the third quarter with a layup to cut the Nighthawk lead to 29-25. North Georgia responded well to push their lead back up to 10 with 7:05 to play in the quarter, 38-28. The Lions got hot from three late in the quarter with back-to-back threes by Lizzie Teasley and a three by Carmen Cabello-Rivera to cut the North Georgia lead to 46-42 with 47 seconds to play in the quarter.  At the end of the third, the Lions trailed 48-42. In the third, the Lions shot 7-17 from the field (41.2%) and 4-11 from three (36.4%). 

The Nighthawk quickly pushed their lead back up to 10 to start the fourth quarter, 54-44, but the Lions continued to make plays. Carmen Cabello-Rivera connected on back-to-back threes to cut it to 60-54 with 6:43 to play. North Georgia responded well, outscoring the Lions 16-5 the rest of the way to earn the 76-59 victory. In the fourth quarter, the Lions shot 4-8 from the field (50%) and 2-4 from beyond the arc. 

Naomi Roberts led the way for the LIons with 15 points and 8 rebounds, with Carmen Cabello-Rivera adding 10. Roberts contributed 2 assists, with Kate Jackson picking up 2 steals. 

Next up, the Lions will face Georgia College & State University tomorrow at 4PM at the Shaw Athletic Center.

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.