FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Basketball team continued tournament play with a regional matchup against Georgia College & State University today. The Lions jumped out to an early lead and controlled the pace of the game the rest of the way to earn a 62-49 victory to move to 1-1 on the season.
Natalee Goff started things off for the Lions with back-to-back three-pointer to give the Lions an early 6-3 lead. The Bobcats responded to tie the game at 10-10 with 3:08 to play in the first quarter, but a jumper and made free throws by
Naomi Roberts closed the quarter out with the Lions leading 14-10. In the first, Emmanuel shot 5-9 from the field (55.6%), holding the Bobcats to 19% shooting.
The second quarter saw the Lions jump out to a 20-13 lead on layups by Roberts,
Carmen Cabello-Rivera and
Hannah Harris. Georgia College cut the Lions lead to 20-17, but the Lions responded well with back-to-back buckets for Roberts to expand the Lions lead to 24-17 with 31 seconds to play in the half. A three by
Lizzie Teasley would put the exclamation point on the half for the Lions, with Emmanuel leading Georgia College, 27-20 heading into the break. In the second quarter, the Lions were 6-16 from the field (38%) and held the Bobcats to 2-13 from the field.
The Lions carried their momentum into the third quarter, with Roberts and
Emma Leonard opening things up with key buckets from three-point range to make it 33-22, Lions. The Bobcats would cut their deficit to 8 with 4:45 to go in the quarter, but consecutive three-pointers by Goff would push the Lions lead back up to 14, 44-30 with 3:51 to play in the third.
Kate Jackson would get into the scoring for the Lions with five quick points to give the Lions their biggest lead of the night, 49-34, to end the 3
rd. in the third, the Lions were 7-17 (42%) from the field and 5-11 from three-point range.
Jumpers by Jackson and a three-pointer from Goff pushed the Lions lead to 18 early in the fourth quarter, 54-36. The Bobcats would cut the lead to 11 with 2:33 to play, 58-47 but the Lions finished strong with a layup and free throws by Roberts to make the final score, 62-49 Lions. The Lions shot 33% in the quarter, but were 2-2 from the foul line.
Three Lions ended the night in double figures with Roberts leading the way with 24 points and 4 rebounds. The story of the day, however, was sophomore,
Natalee Goff who had a career day with 17 points, 10 rebounds and an assist.
Kate Jackson ended the night with 11 points and 3 rebounds.
The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday as they host USC Aiken at 5PM in the Shaw Athletic Center.
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.
