LAKEWOOD, NJ- The Georgian Court University basketball squad opened the 2010-11 campaign Tuesday evening, falling to Mercy College of the East Coast Conference, 71-62, in the GCU Wellness Center.

In front of a raucous crowd of 120, Georgian Court (0-1) battled back from a 38-26 halftime deficit and closed the gap to within two points on four seperate occasions in the second stanza (even making the score 52-50 with 6:47 remaining), but that would be the closest the Lions would get. 

Turnovers continue to be GCU's bugaboo as the Lions turned over ball 32 times in comparison to Mercy's 17.

Senior Lauren Staats collected a team-high 17 points, including a 4-for-9 effort from three-point territory, in 34 minutes. Jasmine Lewis, in her collegiate debut, tallied 12 points (including a 4-for-4 gest from the free throw line) and six assists in 28 minutes.

Junior Samantha Heck tied for the game high with nine boards (3 offensive, 6 defensive).

As for the Mavericks (1-2), junior Jasmine Williams (Jr.-Stratford, CT) dominated off the bench, leading all scorers with 25 points to go along with nine rebounds in 35 minutes. Junior Simone Williams (Waldorf, MD) countered with 20 points of her own, as well as five assists and a game-high eight steals, in 37 minutes.

Senior Ashley Borofsky (Southington, CT) provided nine rebounds in 40 minutes of action.   

Mercy College plays its fourth straight game vs. a CACC opponent this Thursday when they travel to Felician College for a 7 PM contest.

The Lions travel to Washington, D.C. this weekend to participate in the UDC Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by the University of the District of Columbia. GCU will kick off the event with a 1:00 PM contest vs. Saint Paul's College of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).