LAKEWOOD, NJ (Jan. 11, 2024) - Georgian Court Women's Basketball continues to play tough but once again were on the short side of a tightly contested battle with Caldwell. The Cougars outscored the Lions 20-12 in the final quarter to take the lead for good in the 64-59 win. 

How it Happened
• The shooting numbers were very even. The Cougars shot 39% and GCU 37.5%.
• Neither team was strong from three as Caldwell hit 4-14 and the Lions 6-23.
• Caldwell doubled up the Lions at the foul line. They hit 22-30 while Georgian Court was 11-17. 
• Turnovers were knotted at 20 apiece.
• The Lions held the edge on the glass, 36-33, and although they led 11-10 in offensive rebounds, Caldwell outscored the Lions 11-7 in second-chance points.
First Quarter
• Before the opening tip Caldwell was on the board. That's because of an administrative technical foul issued before the start of the game, putting the Cougars up 1-0 on the jump.
• Once the game started, the Lions scored five straight with a three-pointer from Karissa Smedley and a Niyell McCargo jumper for a 5-1 lead.
• The Cougars quickly responded 13 straight points for a 14-5 lead and it looked like things might get out of hand.
• But Georgian Court finished the final 3:39 of the first quarter on a 12-4 run and were only down by one, 18-17 after 10 minutes. 
• The Lions were sharp from downtown in the quarter, hitting 3-8. They were just 3-15 the rest of the way though.
Second Quarter
• Caldwell opened the second scoring the first nine points and going up 10, 27-17, with seven minutes to go in the half.
• Julia Whesper ended the scoring drought with a three-pointer and that jump started GCU who were able to get down to within four, 29-25 with four and a half to play.
• The Cougars pushed their lead back up with eight with a layup with 14 second left to play in the half.
• It looked like Caldwell might take that eight-point lead into the locker rooms, but Niyell McCargo drew a foul and hit both free throws and GCU trailed 38-32 at the half.
Third Quarter
• The teams were trading baskets to start the half and the Lions still trailed by six, 44-38, with 6:17 to go in the third.
• Georgian Court got hot once again and outscored Caldwell 9-0 the rest of the quarter.
• Smedley hit another triple to get to within one, and Samantha Jones gave GCU the lead with a jumper. 
• McCargo buried another basket and GCU led by three after three.
Fourth Quarter
• Georgian Court maintained a small lead for the first half of the fourth quarter. They were never able to get it above that three-point lead.
• A three-pointer from Caldwell's Jah'Nel Lewis put the Cougars back out in front, 53-51, with 4:23 to play in the game.
• After the Cougars extended the lead to five, Jones brought it back down to three with a three-pointer and Maria Stanescu cut it to one, 58-57, at the foul line.
• With just under two minutes left to play, Smedley gave Georgian Court the lead back making a layup for a 58-57 lead.
• Caldwell took it right back on the next possession and after a Lion miss, buried a three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining to go up 62-58.
• The Lions were never able to get back to a one-possession game and Caldwell escaped with the 64-59 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Samantha Jones was 5-9 overall for 12 points with four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
• Karissa Smedley also scored 12 going 3-6 from behind the arc.
• Julia Whesper hit 3-6 from the floor for 12 points.
• Niyell McCargo added six with four rebounds.

For the Cougars
• Jah'Nel Lewis scored a game-high 17 points and secured a double-double with 10 rebounds.
• Lucy Coogan scored 15 with seven rebounds and five assists.
• Neysa Aguliar was 4-6 overall and 8-11 at the foul line for 16 points.

News and Notes
• Tyra Lovelock surpassed 50 rebounds and Samantha Jones is over 50 steals.
• Julia Whesper scored her 200th career point and Maria Stanescu her 100th.
• Imani Gillette eclipsed 300 career rebounds. 
• This is the first time since seven meetings the teams have not traded wins and losses. Caldwell is now 31-27 all-time against GCU.

Up Next
• It's a quick turnaround for the Lions who host CACC South leading Holy Family Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 6 pm.