LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Dec. 29, 2022) - For the second straight game, Georgian Court Women's Basketball held a first-quarter lead against a ranked opponent. And for the second straight game GCU couldn't hang on, this time to the 24th ranked Jefferson Rams in a 71-46 loss.

How it Happened
• Jefferson shot 42.3% for the game after starting out just 4-20. The Lions were held below 40% shooting 36.5% and each team was just 1-14 from three.
• The rebounding battle was fairly even with the Rams holding a slight edge, 41-37. The damage in the paint though came from Ram layups. They scored 44 points in the paint to GCU's 20.
• Georgian Court committed three times as many turnovers as the Rams. They lost it 24 times to Jefferson's eight.
• The Lions took an early lead scoring the first four points as Jariah Patterson and Savawn Hughes each made layups. 
• Georgian Court was dealt a big blow just 2:12 into the game as their leading scorer, Erika Aspajo, fell hard at midcourt and had to be taken out. She did not return to the game.
• With Jefferson leading by three, 9-6, Patterson took over. She hit a jumper and then a corner three at the 3:12 mark for an 11-9 GCU lead. At the end of the quarter, Hughes was 2-2 at the free throw line to break a 13-all tie and give the Lions a 15-13 lead after 10 minutes.
• Jefferson though found their way to start the second quarter. They scored 16 straight as the Lions went 6:30 without a point. Leah Snisky broke the drought with a layup and A'nya Harper kept the Lions within 10, 29-19, with a layup of her own. 
• Leading by eight with 30 seconds left. Jefferson got a layup from Cassie Murphy, then a GCU turnover and another Murphy layup at the buzzer put them up 12, 35-23, at the half.
• Coming out of the half, Jefferson extended their lead with an 8-2 run to start. At the 2:33 mark of the third, they pushed their lead out to 20, 51-31, thanks to a Haley Meinel layup and closed the quarter scoring nine straight to lead 56-31.
• The two teams traded baskets in the the final quarter with each making five field goals and five free throws. That was more than okay with Jefferson though as they won by a 71-46 final.

It Was Over When...
• Jefferson put to rest any hopes of a GCU comeback closing the third on a 9-0 run in the final 4:14 of the frame. That put them up 25 which proved to be the final margin of victory.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Jariah Patterson scored a game-high 19 points going 9-14 from the floor with three rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
• Savawn Hughes added six points, seven rebounds and four assists.
• Leah Snisky came off the bench to score six points on 3-3 shooting.
• Imani Gillette and Andjela Kremenovic each scored four. Gillette pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.

For the Rams
• Haley Meinel led Jefferson with 18 points. She also blocked five shots, grabbed four rebounds and came up with three steals.
• Cassie Murphy scored 17 on 8-11 shooting with seven rebounds.
• Morgan Robinson had a non-tradition double-double. She grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 13 assists.
• Sam Yencha scored 11 with six boards.

News and Notes
• Patterson's 19 points are a new career-best.
• Savawn Hughes eclipsed 400 career points.
• The Lions 24 turnovers are their most in a game this season.
• GCU blocked five shots, their second-most in a game this season. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court will put a bow on the 2022 calendar year when they take on Post at home Saturday, Dec. 31 at 12 p.m.