Amherst, N.Y. - Taking the floor in an NCAA Division II East Regional contest for the first time ever in program history, Georgian Court University women's basketball made the most of the opportunity as the #3 Lions outlasted #6 Concordia College, 61-54, Friday evening in Daemen College's Lumsden Gymnasium. 

GCU (9-1), with the win, moves on to the semifinal round Saturday evening (6:00 p.m.) vs. the aforementioned Daemen (12-2), which earned a first-round bye as the region's #2 seed.

Having defeated Concordia by an average margin of 22 points over the previous two showdowns between the fellow CACC foes this season, Georgian Court appeared on its way to another comfortable cushion after creating a 17-7 lead in just the initial 10:00 of action. The surplus increased to a game-best 14 points after a Zahniyyah Tarry free throw pushed the score to 31-17 with 1:50 before the half.

Ahead by as many as 10 points at one point in the third frame (39-29, 5:22), the royal-and-gold entered the fourth with a six-point spacing after Tarry's jumper made the score 37-43 with 0:43 left in the session. The Clippers (6-6), playing what will prove to be the final women's basketball contest in its program history, were not ready to say good-bye as Concordia concocted a 12-7 spurt to come as close as one (50-49) with 4:42 to go.

 Georgian Court would take over from there, running out the clock with an 11-5 run (which included the sinking of seven free throws) to put the victory on ice.

Leighanna Lister enjoyed a night for the ages as the Georgian Court junior forward collected the first triple-double in the Lions' NCAA Division II history. The native of Kutztown, Pa. dominated the outing with game-bests of 18 points (7-of-10 FG), 14 boards, and 10 blocks (all career-highs) in the epic performance. It is believed to be the first effort of its kind in a postseason game by a CACC female student-athlete.

CACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Anyssa Fields, collected yet another double-double as the freshman hit for 14 points to complement 12 rebounds in a 40-minute night for her sixth such effort this season. Tian Addison also eclipsed double-digits as the All-Conference guard dropped in 12 points.

Saundra Cleckley (Jr.-Queens, N.Y.) and Margiona Bacaliu (So.-Worcester, Mass.) each netted 15 points apiece in the Concordia finale while Jaayden Lafontant (So.-Thiells, N.Y.) tied GCU's Lister with 14 rebounds.

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