LAKEWOOD, NJ (Feb. 17, 2024) - Georgian Court Women's Basketball had a full morning, celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day and welcoming back Hall of Famer Carol Walters. They then put on an entertaining game with Felician, however came out on the wrong side of a 72-67 loss to the Golden Falcons.

How it Happened
• Felician had the advantage shooting the ball hitting 44% and the Lions at 38%
• From three, Felician was 2-8 and the Lions 3-11.
• Felician hit 21-of-28 at the line and GCU 17-of-23.
• The Golden Falcons had a big edge on the glass pulling down 44 to the Lions 35. That included 23 offensive rebounds and 15 second-chance points.
• Turnovers were a big problem for both teams. Felician lost it 30 times, the Lions 28. 
First Quarter
• The tight game started right away with the score tied at four.
• Felician scored six straight and midway through the quarter were up 10-4.
• Georgian Court went scoreless for 4:45 before Safiatu Kolliegbo buried a three with 2:50 to go.
• She hit another to tie the game at 12 with 38 seconds to play, but Felician scored twice in the final 30 seconds to hold a 16-12 lead after 10 minutes.
Second Quarter
• The Lions started the second on a 10-0 run, holding Felician scoreless for more than five minutes and taking a 22-16 lead.
• The Golden Falcons ended the scoreless drought with a three from Mar Vidal. 
• GCU still held a lead until 2:11 left when Katherine Ritchie hit another triple, putting Felician on top 25-24.
•  In the closing seconds, Felician hit two at the foul line and led at the break 29-26.
Third Quarter
• The score remained a one possession game through much of the third. A layup from Vidal pushed the Golden Falcons lead to six, 43-37, midway through the third.
• Julia Whesper cut the lead down to three, draining a three. 
• The Lions fought to get back to within one, but were unable to grab the lead and Felician was still up four, 49-45, with one quarter to play.
Fourth Quarter
• Felician held the lead until Niyell McCargo grabbed it back with a pull up jumper at the 5:39 mark.
• That was in the middle of a 14-1 run where the Lions went up seven, 61-54 after Kolliegbo hit two at the line.
• The teams were trading baskets down the stretch and with 2:44 to play, the Lion lead was still seven, 65-58.
• But Felician mounted their own comeback, doing most of the work at the free throw line where they were 8-10.
• The Golden Falcons out scored the Lions 14-4 the rest of the way to steal a 72-67 win.

Lions Stat Leaders
• Safiatu Kolliegbo led the Lions scoring 19 points with eight rebounds.
• Three Lions scored exactly 10 points: Imani Gillette, Samantha Jones, and Karissa Smedley.
• Gillette also grabbed five rebounds and five steals.
• Smedley didn't miss all day going 3-3 from the floor and 4-4 at the foul line.
• Nyell McCargo rolled a pair of eights with eight points and eight boards.

For the Golden Falcons
• Ane Valle led all scorers with 25 points, shooting 10-19 with seven rebounds, four assists and five steals.
• Katherine Ritchie pulled in a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
• Adriana Perez chipped in 11 points. 

News and Notes
• Julia Whesper grabbed her 50th rebound this season.
• Safiatu Kolliegbo went over 300 points and 100 rebounds.
• Leah Snisky scored her 100th caeer point.
• Niyell McCargo reached 150 points.
• Imani Gillette surpassed 250 rebounds. 
• The loss snaps a four-game Lions winning streak. GCU is now 24-14 all-time against Felician.
• The game featured a whopping 58 turnovers. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court takes the week off. They'll back at home next Saturday, Feb. 24 hosting CACC South Division leaders Jefferson with a 12 p.m. tipoff.