CALDWELL, NJ (Feb. 3, 2024) - Georgian Court finished off a three-game road swing in Caldwell with a spirited contest against the Cougars. The entertaining game was close throughout with the sense that it was anybody's game and anything could happen. In the end, the Cougars did the Lions in from behind the line where they totaled nine three-pointers to come away with a 69-60 win. Georgian Court falls to 3-6 in the CACC this season as they pass the halfway point in the conference schedule. 

How it Happened
• Caldwell finished the game shooting 49% overall with GCU at 38.6%. The Lions were shooting better than 50% at halftime, but were just 9-36 the rest of the way.
• Three-point shooting was the biggest difference. Caldwell was 9-16 from behind the arc while the Lions failed to connect from deep, going 0-11.
• Caldwell also outscored GCU at the foul line where they were 14-21. Georgian Court hit 6-10.
• The Lions did a number on the glass grabbing 41 and outrebounding the Cougars by 10. They also cleaned up 19 offensive rebounds which turned into 15 second-chance points.
• Both teams seemed to be playing hot potato as the game totaled 46 turnovers. Caldwell lost the ball 25 times and the Lions 21. 
• In all, the game saw eight ties and 15 lead changes. The largest lead of the game was nine, which was the final score.
First Quarter
• The two teams were trading points to start the game.
• Imani Gillette gave the Lions a two-point lead, 9-7, two of 11 points she scored in the quarter.
• Neither team gained more than a three-point lead at any point in the frame.
• That came with under a minute to play when a Caldwell three-point play broke a 17-all tie and gave the Cougars a 20-17 lead after one.
• Both teams shot 50% in the first quarter.
Second Quarter
• Georgian Court continued to keep things close. Caldwell sunk a three in the first minute of the period to take their largest lead to that point, 23-18.
• The Lions answered with two at the line from Marta Guilera and another Gillette layup making it a one-point game again.
• Safiatu Kolliegbo kept pace with a jumper, but after that the Cougars scored five straight.
• The Cougars buried a second-chance opportunity with a three to reach 30, then scored following a turnover and the Lions needed a timeout down 32-26 at the halfway point.
• Following the timeout, the Lions finally cashed in on four offensive rebounds with Samantha Jones finding the bottom of the net. She added another basket and it was quickly a 32-30 game.
• After another Caldwell turnover, Karissa Smedley made it a 6-0 run and tied the game at 32 with a layup.
• Caldwell briefly took the lead back before Niyell McCargo tied it again at 34.
• The final minute was a frenzy for the Lions. They scored six points in 43 seconds, four coming from Kolliegbo, the final layup to beat the buzzer on the half, and GCU had their largest lead of the game, 40-34, at the break.
Third Quarter
• Georgian Court got off to a slow start in the third. Caldwell scored the first four points to cut the lead to two.
• The Lions got on the board with a Jones layup 2:48 into the period, but a three-pointer from the Cougars brought the lead to one, 42-41, and forced a GCU timeout.
• Caldwell reclaimed a 43-42 lead, and from there the two teams passed the lead back and forth. 
• With 90 seconds left in the third, it was a tie game at 48-apiece. Caldwell hit 1-of-2 at the foul line to take a 49-48 lead, then another basket with a minute to play put them up three, 51-48.
• That's how the third quarter ended, 51-48, as GCU went scoreless over the final 2:54. After shooting better then 50% for the first half, the Lions were just 4-19 in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
• Caldwell carried their momentum into the fourth quarter, burying a three on their first possession and going up 54-48.
• Georgian Court responded though scoring five straight to cut the lead back down to one, 54-53, and forcing a Cougar timeout.
• The Cougars hit a pair of three-pointers, bringing their lead to a game-high seven, 60-53, right at the halfway point of the fourth.
• GCU made it a one-possession game, 60-57, with layups from McCargo and Smedley.
• Following that burst though, the Lions went 0-4 and didn't make a field goal again until the final minute.
• Caldwell scored six straight, three coming on a three from Amyah Bray with 1:34 left in the game, giving Caldwell a 66-57 lead.
• The Cougars never trailed again and finished with a 69-60 win. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Safiatu Kolliegbo led the Lions scoring 14 points with five rebounds and two steals.
• Marta Guilera finished with six points and eight rebounds.
• Niyell McCargo added 11 points, eight rebounds, and a team-high four assists.
• Samantha Jones was 5-10 shooting for 11 points. 
• Imani Gillette added 13 points and eight rebounds, but did not see action in the second half.

For the Cougars
• Sophia DeMauro scored a game-high 21 points going 7-13 from the field and 3-5 from three with eight rebounds.
• Jahnel Lewis chipped in nine points with seven helpers.
• Lucy Coogan scored 18 on 6-11 shooting.
• Amyah Bray was 3-4 from deep and scored 12 points. 

News and Notes
• This is the first time this season both teams shot better than 50% in the opening half. It's the third time GCU has shot better than 50% in the first half.
• Georgian Court was 0-11 from three, the second straight game without a three-point basket. 
• These two teams have traded wins in each of the last six matchups. Caldwell now leads the all-time series 30-27.
• Samantha Jones' 11 points are a new career-high. She's set a new career-high in points in each of the last two games. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court is back home Tuesday, Feb. 6 against Holy Family with a 6 p.m. tipoff. GCU will be selling "Paula Strong" t-shirts and bracelets at the game with proceeds going to Lions basketball player Paula Perez-Fabregas and her family as she is undergoing cancer treatments.