BRIDGEPORT, CT (Feb. 10, 2024) - Georgian Court Women's Basketball held a lead going into the fourth quarter but could not hold on at Bridgeport as the Purple Knights scored 26 in the final frame to pull away for a 73-64 win. The Lions finally connected for some threes, but they weren't enough as Bridgeport was 21-30 at the foul line, outscoring GCU by eight at the line and winning by nine.

How it Happened
• The Lions outshot Bridgeport 44%-36%. Georgian Court also made 45.5% from three, but the Purple Knights made three more triples.
• Bridgeport's size was a factor as they won the rebounding battle 39-31 with 17 offensive rebounds. UB also blocked eight GCU shots.
• Georgian Court turned the ball over 20 times. The Purple Knights lost the ball 15 times and that led to 16 Lion points. GCU also scored 19 in transition. 
First Quarter
• Scoring was sparse to being the game. The first points came on a three two-and-a-half minutes in.
• Georgian Court finally got on the board at the 6:50 mark when Imani Gillette went 1-2 at the line.
• The Lions were still struggling offensively and trailed 9-5 with just over two minutes to play in the quarter.
• That's when the light turned on and the period ended in a flurry. Safiatu Kolliegbo made a pair of three-pointers and Niyell McCargo added a jumper with less than a minute to play to tie the game at 15.
• Bridgeport answered hitting a three and took an 18-15 lead into the second.
Second Quarter
• Bridgeport scored the fist five points of the second, going up by as much as eight, 23-15.
• Georgian Court slowly started to come back, helped out on the defensive end as the Purple Knights scored just 1 point in more than five minutes of action.
• McCargo hit a jumper, then Kolliegbo with a steal and score brought the game to within two, 28-26 with 2:30 left before the half.
• GCU kept rolling as McCargo tied the game at the foul line and another steal and score put the Lions ahead 30-28.
• On Bridgeport's final possession, they buried a three to reclaim the lead and went into the half up 31-30. 
Third Quarter
• Georgian Court brought the defensive energy to start the third. Two steals and scores put the Lions up three, 34-31, two minutes into the half.
• After getting the lead early in the period, GCU never lost it the rest of the third, but couldn't get ahead by five at any point.
• The Lions took a five-point lead, 49-44 with 90 seconds left after Leah Snisky made a jumper, but Bridgeport hit a three and the Lions took a four-point lead to the fourth after Kolliegbo knocked in a pair of free throws.
Fourth Quarter
• Niyell McCargo kept the lead at four two minutes into the fourth, but Lions offense went quiet after that. 
• GCU went 5:18 without scoring as Bridgeport reclaimed the lead.
• By the time Jada Jacobs ended the scoring drought with a three, Georgian Court was already trailing by 11 with less than three to play.
• Bridgeport kept it at a multiple possession game the rest of the way, finishing the fourth with 26 points and the 73-64 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Safiatu Kolliegbo scored a team-high 25 points and was 4-7 from three.
• Niyell McCargo was 6-11 from the floor for 16 points and five rebounds.
• Leah Snisky scored six and pulled down nine boards.
• Jada Jacobs was 4-8 for nine points while adding five rebounds and two assists.

For the Purple Knights
• Shakira Hester led the Purple Knights with 14 points going 4-9 from the floor and 6-10 at the line.
• Stephanie McBride recorded an 11-point, 16-rebound double-double.
• Sade Young chipped in 12 points and Samirah Akinwunmi added 10.

News and Notes
• Leah Snisky's nine rebounds are a new career high.
• UB is now 3-1 all-time against the Lions. This was their first win over GCU as a member of the CACC.
• This was the Lions second-best three-point shooting day of the season and their tops in conference. 
• The last time GCU made five or more three-pointers was Jan. 17 against Wilmington. 
• Bridgeport's eight blocked shots are the most against the Lions this season.

Up Next
• Georgian Court stays on the road for a Valentine's Day special Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Goldey-Beacom. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.