Newark, Del. - A
Jada Atchison jumper at the buzzer snapped a 77-77 stalemate to abruptly end Georgian Court University's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) divisional road contest Wednesday at Wilmington University as the Lions silenced the Wildcats' faithful in a 78-77 stunner.
The Lions completed the initial quarter of play with a 26-17 surplus. Wilmington answered with a 21-15 advantage in the second period, but the home team still trailed by a score of 41-38 heading into the break.
After a
Safiyyah Lee lay-in provided GCU with a ten-point lead (54-44) at the 4:06 mark of the third, Wilmington answered to close the stanza on a 13-5 waltz to cut the deficit to 59-57 entering the fourth-and-final frame.
Carrying its momentum into the concluding quarter, the Wildcats (1-12, 1-4 CACC) opened the session with an 18-11 run to sprint past the visitors and take a 75-70 lead of their own with 3:39 remaining in regulation. The Lions clawed their way back to tie the game at 78 when
Nerea Brajac sank a free throw with 0:42 on the clock.
Seconds later,
Sabreen Muslim (Jr.-Baltimore, Md.) proceeded to drop in a free throw of her own to leapfrog the Lions on the scoreboard, 77-76, setting the stage for Atchison's heroics at the horn.
The Georgian Court graduate student, with her game-winner, finished the night with 23 points, connecting on 10-of-23 attempts from the floor. Atchison, in what marked her eighth contest of the year with 20 or more points, also dished a game-best six helpers in the triumph.
The aforementioned Lee also drained 23 points for GCU, the senior's third effort of 20+ points, while also contributing game-highs with five steals and three blocks.
A trio of Wildcats authored double-doubles in the setback, including
Kiara Eubanks (So.-Accokeek, Md.) (23 points, 10 rebounds), Muslim (19 points, 11 rebounds), and
LaShyra Williams (Gr.-Seaford, Del.) (13 points, 10 rebounds).
GCU (4-8, 2-3 CACC) now returns to campus to host its first home contest of 2020 as the Lions welcome Caldwell University this Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
