RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The Coastal Georgia Mariners dropped an 88-72 decision to Spring Arbor on Monday afternoon at Newt Oliver Arena, falling to 10-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Freshman guard Niya Moon provided a spark off the bench, leading the Mariners with 20 points on 6-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Moon scored in bunches throughout the afternoon, including a crucial nine-point second quarter that kept Coastal Georgia within striking distance. Paris Miller added 14 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes of action, while Amanda Roach chipped in 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists. The trio combined for 49 of the team's 72 points.
Despite an impressive 38 bench points, the Mariners couldn't overcome Spring Arbor's dominance in the paint, where the Cougars held a commanding 48-24 advantage. Spring Arbor's Megan Zeitz led all scorers with 25 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting performance, consistently attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. The Cougars shot 50 percent from the field for the game and connected on 25 of 37 free throws.
Coastal Georgia struggled to find its offensive rhythm, shooting just 30.1 percent from the field while committing 18 turnovers that Spring Arbor converted into 33 points. The Cougars jumped out to a 30-24 first-quarter lead behind 60 percent shooting and never trailed after the opening minutes. The Mariners briefly held a 12-8 advantage midway through the first quarter, but Spring Arbor responded with strong interior play to regain control and build their lead to as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter.
The Mariners were outrebounded 59-34 in the contest played before 115 fans at Newt Oliver Arena. The rebounding disparity and turnovers proved too much to overcome despite the team's depth and bench production.
Coastal Georgia will look to get back on track as the season continues. The Mariners remain in solid position at 10-3 and will aim to tighten up their interior defense and ball security as they prepare for their next contest.
