WILMINGTON, Del. (Feb. 28, 2024) - Georgian Court Women's Basketball played their final road game of 2023-24 Wednesday night at Wilmington. The game was tied after three quarters and was close throughout, but Wilmington found a way at the end slipped by Georgian Court, 62-58. 

How it Happened
• Wilmington finished the game shooting 39% and the Lions 35%. 
• The Wildcats hit 6-17 from three and Georgian Court was just 2-13.
• Things might have been different if the Lions shot a little better at the free throw line. They were just 14-28 while Wilmington hit 18-26.
• Georgian Court grabbed 40 rebounds, 13 offensive. Wilmington pulled down 35.
• The Lions stayed in the game by forcing 24 turnovers and scoring 19 points off those. GCU lost the ball 17 times themselves. 
First Quarter
• In a low-scoring first quarter, Wilmington scored first hitting a three. It was their only three-ball of the period, finishing 0-4 the rest of the frame.
• Georgian Court took a 4-3 lead on a Niyell McCargo jumper with 8:19 to play.
• A Wilmington three-point play gave them a 6-4 lead at the 7:26 mark and that was the last time they scored.
• GCU held the Wildcats scoreless over the final 7:26, but weren't able to get much separation. They scored five over that frame and led 9-6 after one.
Second Quarter
• Both teams were scoreless for nearly three minutes to start the second. Safiatu Kolliegbo ended that stretch with a three and a 12-6 Lions lead.
• After more than 10 minutes without a point between the first and second quarters, Wilmington finally scored again getting a bucket at the 6:53 mark.
• Wilmington fought to get the Lions lead back down to one, 14-13, with just over four minutes to play.
• GCU extended their lead as Kolliegbo scored four straight. Karissa Smedley's layup gave the Lions their largest lead of the half, 22-15.
• Wilmington scored four though in the final minute, but just as the buzzer sounded Julia Whesper's three-pointer was true and GCU was up six, 25-19 at the break.
Third Quarter
• Wilmington started the third getting back to within one 70 seconds into the quarter.
• With the Lions up two, 28-26, GCU scored six straight in less than a minute going up eight and forcing a Wildcat timeout. 
• Georgian Court still led by seven with less than two minutes remaining, 39-32.
• Wilmington finished the quarter though on a 9-2 run and heading to the fourth the game was tied 41. 
Fourth Quarter
• After Wilmington tied the game, GCU came out hot to start the fourth. Leah Snisky and Kolliegbo each made baskets putting the Lions back up four and forcing a Wildcat timeout.
• With the Lions up three, Wilmington scored four straight and took a 50-49 lead with 6:32 left. It was their first lead since 6-4 early in the first quarter.
• Georgian Court was able to regain the lead, 51-50, but the Wildcats scored five straight, knocking in a three-pointer and going up 55-51 with 4:31 left as the Lions called timeout.
• Down two, 56-54, GCU scored two layups in 22 seconds. Karissa Smedley hit the first, followed by Julia Whesper after Kolliegbo's steal. 
• With Georgian Court ahead by one, 58-57, Daja Claiborne was at the line for two. She made the first, missed the second but got her own rebound and scored to put the Wildcats up 60-58 with 1:52 left.
• The Lions were unable to score, going 0-3 the rest of the way. Wilmington made it a four-point game with 13 seconds left and hung on for the four-point win, 62-58.

Lions Stat Leaders
• Safiatu Kolliegbo led the Lions scoring 18 with 13 rebounds. She was two assists shy of a triple-double with eight assists as well. 
• Niyell McCargo scored eight with six boards.
• Leah Snisky reversed McCargo's numbers with six points and eight rebounds.
• Julia Whesper chipped in seven points.
• Samantha Jones finished with eight points. 

For the Wildcats
• Amber Washington scored a game-high 21 points with four assists.
• Trinity Brittingham added 15 points on 4-9 shooting.
• Aniyah Bond was 4-7 from three for 12 points.
• Daja Claiborne had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. 

News and Notes
• Julia Whesper and Samantha Jones each scored their 100th career point.
• Niyell McCargo and Leah Snisky each grabbed their 100th rebound.
• Safiatu Kolliegbo's 13 rebounds are a new career-high and her double-double is the first of her career. 
• All seven Lions that got in the game scored at least five points. 
• The loss snaps a GCU eight-game winning streak against Wilmington. It also officially eliminates Georgian Court from CACC postseason contention. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court wraps up the regular season Saturday at home taking on Chestnut Hill at 12 p.m.