LAKEWOOD, NJ (Jan. 20, 2024) - On a day when Georgian Court Women's Basketball welcomed back an all-time great, the current Lions entertained with an all-time great comeback win against Bloomfield. It's the Lions second win in a row, moving them to 3-3 in CACC action this year. The Lions trailed by as many as 12 before a second-half charge propelled them to a 75-66 win.

How it Happened
• Georgian Court scored just 30 first half points and nearly matched that in the third quarter alone, scoring 27.
• It was a tale of two halves for the Lions who shot 39% in the opening half and a blistering 49% in the second.
• Bloomfield finished the game shooting 40% overall and were 3-15 from three. GCU was 4-9 from three, 4-6 in the second half.
• At the foul line, Bloomfield attempted 24 hitting 17. Georgian Court was 9-15.
• Turnovers were a big part of the game, especially early for the Lions. GCU lost the ball 15 times in the first half, but limited that to just six in the second. 
• Bloomfield committed 26 turnovers which led to 39 Lion points off turnovers including 15 on the fastbreak.
• The Lions also had the edge rebounding the ball with 44 to Bloomfield's 37. That included 18 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points.
First Quarter
• For the second time this week, Georgian Court did not start out well. This time they spotted Bloomfield seven points in the first 1:07 before getting on the board thanks to a pair of Imani Gillette free throws.
• Gillette was the offense for much of the early portion in the game. Of the Lions 15 first-quarter points, Gillette had 11 of them and 14 of the Lions first 20 points.
• After getting down 7-0, GCU answered by scoring eight straight of their own for their first lead, 8-7, 3:40 in.
• Bloomfield was able to get the lead back though. They held GCU scoreless over the final 2:12 and scored three-points in the closing minute, including getting a free throw with less than one second on the clock to hold a 19-15 lead after one.
Second Quarter
• Bloomfield led for the rest of the half, pushing their lead to as much as 12.
• Georgian Court was able to cut the lead down to single-digits late in the half.  A jumper from Samantha Jones and Safiatu Kolliegbo layup brought UCM within nine at the half, 39-30.
Third Quarter
• The Bears lead was back up to 12, 44-32 early in the second half following two Daniya Darby free throws.
• But Georgian Court made a run after that and tied the game in just 4:06 seconds.
• Georgian Court forced five turnovers and Kolliegbo and Jada Jacobs each whacked three-pointers as the Lions tied the game at 48.
• Bloomfield ended the 16-4 run hitting a three on their next possession to reclaim the lead, 51-48 with 3:08 left in the third. 
• With 1:26 left, the Bears lead was four, 56-52, but by the end of the third, the Lions held the lead, 57-56. Marta Guilera scored all five points with two lay ups and a free throw, for a one-point lead with 10 minutes to play.
Fourth Quarter
• Bloomfield retook the lead on their first possession of the fourth, but that was the last time they held it.
• Gillette made a layup and that started a 12-0 GCU run over a 3:39 span. Bloomfield turned the ball over three more times and Kolliegbo hit another three, as did Samantha Jones.
• The closest Bloomfield got the rest of the way was nine and that's how it ended with GCU on top, 75-66.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Imani Gillette led all scorers with 26 points going 10-16 overall, 6-7 at the line and grabbed 15 rebounds.
• Safiatu Kolliegbo added 22 with eight rebounds and five steals.
• Marta Guilera scored nine with three rebounds and four assists.
• Julia Whesper facilitated with eight points, six boards and five assists.
• Samantha Jones scored seven and came up with five steals.

For the Bears
• Daniya Darby scored 19 points going 8-10 overall with seven rebounds and six steals.
• Tiara Mahorn scored 14 doing most of her damage at the line where she was 9-10.
• Kamrin Babbs added 11 and Anisha Able 10. Able secured a double-double with 13 rebounds.

News and Notes
• The Lions have now won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
• Georgian Court is now 23-37 all-time against the Bears.
• Imani Gillette grabbed her 200th career rebound. She has double-doubles in five of her last six games and 20+ points in three of her last four.
• The Lions 17 steals were their most in a game this season. 
• Prior to the game, Georgian Court welcomed back Hall of Famer Robyn Saul Magovern. Robyn was the first 1,000 point scorer in Lions history and was inducted into the Lions Hall of Fame as a part of the inaugural class of 2003. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court starts a three-game road swing next week starting Tuesday, Jan. 23 when the Lions take on Chestnut Hill. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.