BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Despite out-scoring their opposition in the fourth quarter, the College of Coastal Georgia women's basketball suffered defeat on Saturday afternoon, dropping their first Sun Conference contest of the new year by a final of 54-47 to the St Thomas Bobcats. 

The Mariners (7-5, 0-4 SUN) got the first basket of the game on a layup from Tyler Butler, but the Bobcats (8-5, 3-1 SUN) quickly responded with a 5-0 run giving them a lead they would hold for the remainder of the first half. CCGA did not shoot the ball very efficiently in the quarter, managing just 18 percent from the floor and shot 0-3 from behind the three point line, but trailed by just five heading to the second quarter. 

The woes continued for the Mariners in the second quarter, as St Thomas began the period on a 9-4 run, putting CCGA behind by double figures. Taylor Garnder stopped the run with a three pointer, the first of the game for the Mariners, which sparked an 8-2 run for the Mariners to end the half, but St Thomas took their four point, 23-19, lead into the locker room. 

Gardner led the Mariners with seven at the break with Butler following close behind with six. Butler also grabbed five of the Mariners 22 rebounds in the half. As a team, the Mariners shot just 24 percent and 14 percent from three at the break, compared to 37 percent for the Bobcats. 

Through the first five minutes of the third quarter, the Bobcats extended their lead back to double figures as their lead never dropped below eight points and got as high as 13, leading to their 11 point lead going into the fourth. 

After being outplayed for the majority of the game, the Mariners showed some grit in the final 10 minutes, grinding their way back into the ballgame, cutting the St Thomas lead all the way down to as low as four points in the final few seconds, but CCGA could not get a timely basket as the Bobcats iced the game from the free throw line and secured the 54-47 victory inside Coffin Gym. 

Worsley finished as the leading scorer for CCGA scoring 13 points, a new season high for the senior from Deerfield Beach, Fla. Gardner finished with 11, her sixth game of the season with at least 10+ points. Butler finished with six points and a team leading nine rebounds. 

The Mariners shot just 26 percent from the field and 10 percent from three, both season lows. CCGA will have the opportunity to rebound once again on their home floor on Wednesday as they host the New College of Florida Mighty Banyan. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.