Lakewood, N.J. - The Georgian Court University women's basketball squad played its first contest of the season vs. a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) foe Saturday afternoon as the Jefferson Rams overmatched the Lions, 80-64, in divisional action.

Led by Erin Maher's (Jr.-Lansdale, Pa.) 17 first-quarter points (including the Lady Rams' 15 of the game), Jefferson jumped out to a mighty 27-14 advantage after the initial frame. The visitors edged the Lions, 22-21, in the second period to cruise into intermission with a comfy 14-point lead at 49-35. 

Georgian Court kept the Lady Rams honest by winning the third period, 18-17. With the score now 66-53 Jefferson, the Lady Rams proceeded to outpace the Lions, 14-11, in the fourth-and-final stanza to improve to 7-1 (1-0 CACC) on the season.

Both teams shot an almost-identical percentage from the floor with Jefferson edging the Lions, 39.7% to 39.0%.

"Great effort and intensity by us today, but we still can't put it all together," said GCU head coach Jazz Perazic. "Two key factors that we talked about before the game were closing out on shooters and limiting opponents' second-chance points;  we just didn't do a good enough job in either of the two categories. Jefferson is a very good team and even though the outcome was not what we wanted, I think we are starting to show everyone that this is a totally new and very competitive Lions' squad."

Maher ended her lights-out performance with 26 points, including a 10-for-15 effort from the floor and 5-for-8 shooting beyond the three-point arc. Beverly Kum (Jr.-Hagerstown, Md.) and Alynna Williams (So.-Ambler, Pa.) each tallied 13 points for the victors while Rachel Day (Sr.-Horsham, Pa.) compiled a double-double consisting of 11 boards and 10 points.

Jess Placher shined for Georgian Court with a team season-high 20 points, which included six three-pointers over 28 minutes of action. Jaelyn Tweedy dropped in 12 points of her own while dishing a game-best five assists. Nerea Brajac and Carna Prokic each netted nine points apiece.

GCU (2-5, 0-1 CACC) takes to the road Tuesday evening with a 6:00 p.m. CACC divisional showdown vs. reigning conference champion, University of the Sciences.