Box Score WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Coastal Georgia women's basketball team (1-12, 0-5) dropped its first game of 2023 to Keiser University (11-6, 3-3) by a score of 72-60 on Tuesday afternoon.
Seniors Sonia Forney and Joyce Jordan led the charge during the hard-fought contest. They combined for 41 points and 21 rebounds as Forney recorded her eighth double-double of the season.
Wings Nicole Hofmann and Gabby Litvak combined for 10 points. Litvak hit two of her five three-point attempts to record her team-leading 23rd three. Litvak is averaging 1.8 made threes per game which puts her at eighth in the Sun Conference.
Guards Azaria Varnado and Iesha Rhodin combined for nine points and five assists but were not able to find their shot consistently down the stretch.
As a team, the Mariners shot just 31.1 percent from the field while the Seahawks shot 51 percent.
Keiser was led by Shykim Gillion who recorded 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. Gillion had some help from her teammates as seven of the other eight Seahawks players to play scored at least three points.
Kennedy Schlabach and Janiece Thomas combined for 25 points and Thomas was a perfect 5-5 from the field.
How It Happened:
1st Quarter:
The Mariners and Seahawks traded 6-0 runs to open the game. Coastal Georgia struck first thanks to four quick Sonia Forney points, but Keiser was able to rebound quickly and tie it. The teams were tied up at 8-8 before Keiser went on an 11-5 run to give them a 19-13 lead at the end of the first.
2nd Quarter:
Sonia Forney opened up the second quarter with a three-point play but Keiser grew its lead and outscored the Mariners 17-11 thanks to efficient shooting and a +7 rebounding margin. The Seahawks into the break-up 36-24.
3rd Quarter:
After the half the Mariners found their grove a bit, making 40 percent of their shots and hitting on 10 of their 12 free throw attempts. However, Keiser never lost their grove and retained a commanding 54-43 lead going into the final quarter of play.
4th Quarter:
Coastal Georgia did not go away quietly however and cut Keiser's lead to eight. The Seahawks were not shaken though and closed out the game without any more scares and improved to .500 in Sun Conference play.
UP NEXT: The Mariners will host Webber International on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 5:30 pm in the Coffin Gym.
