BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Poor shooting from three and a stout Southeastern defense stuffed the Mariners in their 2024-25 conference home opener, dropping their Wednesday night contest with the Fire by a final score of 75-63 inside Coffin Gym.
After jumping out to a 4-0 lead to begin the game, the Fire (6-2, 1-1 SUN) gave up their first basket to the Mariners (4-3, 0-2 SUN) in the form of a Maylei Noreika jumper to put CCGA on the board. With a 7-4 lead and just over six minutes on the clock, the Fire went on a 5-2 run to take a 12-6 lead into the media timeout. Jasmin Worsley got the Mariners within six on a layup with 3:38 remaining in the quarter, but that is as close as CCGA could get the lead in the first as the Fire led 22-14 at the end of one quarter.
The Fire came out at the quarter break and extended their lead by as many as 20 as an 11-2 run put the Mariners even further behind the eight ball of a comeback. After the halfway point of the quarter, CCGA found their offense as they used five points from Tyler Butler, two from Gracie Hearon, two from Alli Stone, and a three at the buzzer from Morgon Webb to cut into the Fire lead slightly as Southeastern led 44-30 at the half.
Butler led the way at the break with nine while Worsley followed with five of her own. The duo also grabbed five rebounds a piece, combining for 10 of the Mariners 17 in the half.
CCGA shot an impressive 43 percent from the floor in the first half which was overshadowed by 49 percent from the field and 36 percent from three from Southeastern.
The Mariners came out on fire after the halftime break, going on a quick but effective 6-0 run forcing two Fire turnovers while cashing in a Webb layup sandwiched by Butler layups. The run forced a timeout from Southeastern and their lead was back down to 10 with 6:21 left in the third. Butler trimmed the lead down to single digits with four and a half to play in the quarter, but the Fire responded with a 9-0 run over the final three and a half minutes of game time to take a 59-42 lead into the final quarter.
Butler, Webb and Taylor Gardner got the Mariners going in the third, but the Fire continued to apply pressure and the lead never dipped below 10 for the remainder of the fourth. Shafer cut the lead to 10 on two different occasions in the quarter, but the offensive presence from the Fire was too much for the Mariners to handle as they dropped their second straight Sun Conference contest by a final of 75-63.
Butler finished with 21 on the game, a new career high for the senior from Belleville, Ill. Gardner followed with 10 points and seven rebounds. CCGA outscored the Fire 21-16 in the quarter and shot 44 percent from the field, but could not tame the Fire.
Southeastern was led by the duo of Jodi Mullins and Grace Field who finished with 17 and 16 respectively. Field also grabbed 14 rebounds to finish with a double-double.
For the game, the Mariners shot 41 percent from the field, but just seven percent from three, going 1-14.
The Mariners will now turn their focus to the Ave Maria Gyrenes. Tip off is set for 2:00 p.m. from Ave Maria, Fla.
