The Coastal Georgia Mariners put together a commanding performance Saturday afternoon at Coffin Gym, cruising to an 89-57 victory over Truett McConnell before a crowd of 63. The win improved the Mariners' record to 10-2 overall while the Bears fell to 3-8.
From the opening tip, Coastal Georgia established control and never looked back. The Mariners jumped out to a 35-23 lead after the first quarter and maintained their advantage throughout, building their largest lead to 39 points midway through the fourth quarter. The Bears managed to score just three points in the disastrous third period, shooting a frigid 9.1 percent from the field while Coastal Georgia extended their lead to 30 points heading into the final frame.
Taylor Blackshear was absolutely dominant in the paint, recording a game-high 27 points on 12-of-19 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds, dishing out three assists, and collecting five steals. The senior forward was a constant presence around the basket, repeatedly scoring in transition and off offensive rebounds. Her ability to finish through contact and control the boards gave the Mariners a significant advantage in the interior.
Hadiya Kennerly provided excellent support with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including two three-pointers. She also contributed five rebounds and two assists while playing solid defense. Kyla Raven came off the bench to add 12 important points on perfect 5-of-10 shooting from the field, providing a spark for the second unit.
The Mariners' bench was instrumental in the victory, contributing 37 points compared to just 22 for Truett McConnell. Iesha Rhodin added seven points with clutch three-point shooting in the second quarter, while Alli Stone chipped in seven points and played aggressive defense. Amanda Roach contributed seven points and helped facilitate the offense with two assists, and Ana Baptista knocked down a pair of three-pointers for six points.
Coastal Georgia's defense was suffocating throughout the contest, forcing 32 turnovers that led to 34 points. The Mariners' full-court pressure and active hands in the passing lanes repeatedly disrupted Truett McConnell's offensive rhythm. The defensive effort was particularly impressive in the third quarter when the Bears managed just one field goal in eleven attempts.
The Mariners dominated the paint, outscoring the Bears 50-24 in that area while also holding a significant advantage on second-chance points, 23-5. The offensive rebounding was relentless, with Coastal Georgia grabbing 20 offensive boards compared to just four for Truett McConnell. This disparity gave the Mariners numerous extra possessions and wore down the Bears' defense.
For Truett McConnell, Ava Queen led the way with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while Brinkley Kate Reed added 10 points. However, the Bears struggled mightily from beyond the arc, converting just five of seventeen three-point attempts for 29.4 percent. Their offense completely stalled in the third quarter when they managed only three points on one field goal, allowing Coastal Georgia to turn a comfortable lead into a blowout.
The Mariners shot 41.2 percent from the field for the game and converted 70.6 percent of their free throws, going 12-of-17 from the charity stripe. While the three-point shooting was modest at 25 percent on 7-of-28, the interior dominance more than compensated for the perimeter struggles. Coastal Georgia's ability to get to the rim consistently and finish around the basket proved to be the difference.
The balanced scoring attack and stifling defense exemplified the team-oriented approach that has made Coastal Georgia successful this season. Thirteen different players saw action for the Mariners, with multiple contributors stepping up throughout the game. The defensive intensity never waned, and the offensive execution improved as the game progressed.
The victory continues Coastal Georgia's strong start to the season and demonstrates the team's ability to dominate on both ends of the floor when firing on all cylinders.
