RUTHERFORD, NJ (Jan. 4, 2025) - Georgian Court Women's Basketball found themselves in a very early hole Saturday afternoon, but needed only to look towards their bench for inspiration to never give up. Lions junior Paula Perez-Fabregas, out since early last season dealing with health problems, paid GCU a visit and was on the sidelines with her teammates for the first time this season. Perez-Fabregas's presence lifted the Lions spirits, and lifted them out of their early deficit and on to a 73-67 comeback win.

How it Happened
• When looking over the box score, one thing that immediately jumps out is turnovers. Both teams lost the ball 33 times, for a total of 66 turnovers.
• The officials, perhaps with a new point-of-emphasis, called the teams for 23 traveling violations. 
• It was Felician who was the biggest beneficiary of those turnovers, turning the 33 Lion giveaways into 35 points. GCU scored just 17 points off turnovers.
• Georgian Court though was the better shooting team. They finished at 51.1% overall, 46.7% from behind the arc and 85.7% at the foul line.
• Felician shot shot 44.4% for the game, going 5-6 from deep and made 72.7% at the free throw line.
• The Golden Falcons won the rebounding battle, 33-24, and scored 11 second-chance points thanks to 14 offensive rebounds.
1st Quarter
• Things started out well for the Lions as Alexi Hoy made the first bucket of the game.
• It unraveled quickly though with Felician scoring the next 14 points for a 14-2 lead midway through the frame.
• Imani Gillette ended the 14-0 run and Karissa Smedley hit a three to cut the lead in half.
• Towards the end of the quarter, Julia Whesper went 2-2 at the foul line and a 12-point lead was cut to five, 16-11, after 10 minutes of play.
2nd Quarter
• Whesper's three in the first minute of the period made it a one-possession game.
• Felician continued to cling to a small lead until Gillette got three the hard way to tie the game at 25 with 1:46 left in the half.
• Samantha Jones made a layup in the final minute and Georgian Court took their first lead since 2-0, 27-25, which is how the half ended.
3rd Quarter
• The Lions started the second half with a three from Maria Stanescu and a Niyell McCargo layup to push their lead to seven, 32-25.
• Another Stanescu three and a Gillette bucket gave the Lions their first double-digit lead, 37-27, with a little over two minutes gone by in the quarter.
• The two teams traded baskets for much of the rest of the quarter. Katherine Ritchie went 4-4 at the foul line as the Golden Falcons managed to get within six, 45-39, but GCU brought the lead back up to 10 and led by eight, 49-41 heading to the fourth.
4th Quarter
• In the first 1:40 of the fourth, Felician used a 6-0 run to make it a two-point game, 49-47.
• Georgian Court had the answer though and it was the three-pointer. Stanescu and Smedley each connected from downtown and the lead was quickly back up to eight.
• The Golden Falcons chipped away, refusing to go down quietly. The hit a three-pointer of their own and made it a 67-64 game with 1:18 left to play.
• Felician had a chance to tie or get within one following a GCU miss, but couldn't connect and needed to start playing the foul game.
• In the final 28 seconds, Georgian Court went 6-6 at the foul line and never allowed Felician another chance to tie the rest of the way.
• The Golden Falcons hit a three with less than a second remaining, but it was no matter as GCU was able to secure a 73-67 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Imani Gillette scored 16 points with seven rebounds, going 7-11 from the floor.
• Julia Whesper was 4-7 overall and 6-6 at the line for 15 points with five rebounds and three assists.
• Karissa Smedley also didn't miss at the line going 4-4 and scoring 10 points.
• Maria Stanescu added nine points and three steals.
• Tyra Lovelock scored six with four assists and three steals.

For the Golden Falcons
• Katherine Ritchie scored a game-high 21, mostly at the foul line where she was 13-16. She also added eight rebounds.
• Ane Valle scored 14 going 7-14 overall with five boards.
• Stephanie Formby was a rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, six offensive. 
• Noella Biduaya was 5-7 overall for 10 points with three steals.

News and Notes
• Georgian Court shot 50% or better in the second, third and fourth quarters. They were 5-7 overall in the fourth and 11-12 at the foul line.
• The Lions 51.1% field goal and 85.7% free throw shooting percentages are both season-bests. That free throw percentage is their highest since going 10-11 at Post Jan. 27, 2024. The field goal percentage is their highest in nearly two years, since they shot 54% at Holy Family Jan. 25, 2023.
• Their 18 made free throws are the most since hitting 21 last season, also against Felician.
• Georgian Court improves to 15-24 all-time against Felician and 5-1 in their last six. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court looks to make it two in a row as they return home for a Monday matinee. They host Queens Jan. 6 at 2 p.m.