WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 21, 2023) - Playing shorthanded and less than 24 hours after their game against Division I Fordham, Georgian Court Women's Basketball was back on the road for the final game of their season-opening five-game road trip. The Lions got down early and couldn't mount a comeback as the University of the District of Columbia picked up the 80-53 win.

How it Happened
• The Lions failed to shoot 30% from the floor hitting 20-of-68 and were 4-19 from three.
• UDC was a tick below 40% going 28-71 overall. They too weren't hitting the three, just 3-21, but were 21-24 at the foul line.
• Turnovers were a major factor with GCU losing the ball 38 times and UDC scoring 36 points off those turnovers.
• Georgian Court won the rebounding battle 54-42, including grabbing 26 on the offensive glass, but managed just 12 second-chance points.
1st Quarter
• The Firebirds lived up to their name and were on fire to start. They hit four of their first five FG attempts and raced out to a 9-0 lead.
• The Lions offense got rolling later in the first quarter, but after they already were down 19-3. 
• Georgian Court scored 15 points in the final 3:50, but UDC scored 32 in the opening frame and led 32-18 after one.
2nd Quarter
• The second quarter was more evenly played, but the Lions still couldn't cut into the Firebirds lead.
• Julia Whesper scored nine straight for the Lions at the end of the half with three layups and a three-pointer.
• Whesper beat the buzzer for the three sending GCU into intermission on a high note.
• The GCU defense also picked up, holding the Firebirds to just 17 in the quarter but were down 49-34 at the half.
3rd Quarter
• The Lions momentum from Whesper's three at the end of the half didn't carry over into the second half.
• GCU went nearly the first six minutes of the quarter without a point as UDC pused their lead to 25, 59-34.
• Karissa Smedley ended the scoring drought with a layup, but the Lions scored just four in the quarter and trailed by a game-high 32, 70-38.
4th Quarter
• Georgian Court made a little run to start the fourth, outscoring UDC 11-4.
• Samantha Jones and Safiatu Kolliegbo each hit three-pointers.
• With under two minutes to play, Niyell McCargo hit a jumper to bring the lead under 30 and Karissa Smedley ended things with a pair of free throws to get to the 80-53 final score.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Safiatu Kolliegbo led the Lions scoring 16 points.
• Karissa Smedley picked up a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
• Julia Whesper scored nine points with three assists.

For the Firebirds
• Tori Williams scored a game-high 23 points.
• Destiny Ryles added 19.
• Aiyana Ellis grabbed 10 rebounds.

News and Notes
• The Lions were shorthanded and played just eight. All eight were true freshmen.
• GCU is 0-5 to start the season for the first time since 2018-19 when they started 0-7. That year finished with GCU going 12-7 in CACC play and making it to the CACC Tournament semifinals.
• UDC got their win back from last year when they visited Lakewood. The Lions fall to 1-2 all-time against the Firebirds.

Up Next
• Georgian Court will play on it's home floor for the first time after the Thanksgiving holiday. They'll be at home Monday, Nov. 27 against Lock Haven with a 6 p.m. start time. The game will also be the Lions Go 4 Gold Childhood Cancer awareness game with donation tables set up to help in the fight against pediatric cancer.