BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Trailing by 10 going into the fourth, the College of Coastal Georgia women's basketball team was unable to conquer the stout defense of the Keiser Seahawks, dropping their Monday night contest by a final of 69-56.
Tyler Butler got the scoring started with a layup for the Mariners (11-10, 4-9 SUN), but Keiser (15-8, 8-4 SUN) answered with back to back layups from Mahiro Oyama and Mimmi Hahne to take a quick 4-2 lead. With both teams trading baskets early, Keiser tied the game back up early with a layup from Avrie Schmidt making the score 8-8 with a little over six minutes left in the period. Scoring nine consecutive points, the Seahawks increased their lead to 11 points before the Mariners were able to score again. Maylei Noreika and Morgan Webb were able to put up two points each making the score 17-12, but the Seahawks answered immediately with a three pointer from Aly Avrach to increase their lead back up to 20-12 with 1:46 left in the first quarter. With a minute left, Webb and Gardner scored for the Mariners, decreasing the lead to three points. Ending the first period, Jasmyn Hale scored for the Seahawks, making the score 23-17 going into the second quarter.
A minute and a half into the second period, Jade Simpson and Hahne put the Seahawks up double digits. Following that the Seahawks scored eight consecutive points, and went on a 10-0 run before Butler ended the Seahawks run with a tip-in, making the score 33-19. Soon after, Gardner scored five points for the Mariners with a jump shot followed by a three. CCGA survived the run and ended the period on a 7-4 run to end the half, but Keiser held the early advantage as they led by 11 going into the locker room.
Gardner led the way at the break with 10 followed by Butler with six. As a team, the Mariners struggled shooting the ball, shooting 33 percent from the field and just 21 percent from three. The Seahawks ended the half shooting 57 percent from the field and 33 percent from three, leading to the big halftime lead.
The Mariners came out strong to begin the second half, outscoring the Seahawks 11-6 over the first four minutes of the third quarter to get back into the ballgame. CCGA got four each from Shafer and Butler during the stretch, cutting the deficit to 43-37. Webb got the Mariners as close as six with a pair of free throws with 2:10 left in the third quarter, but Keiser survived the storm and ended the third on a 7-3 run to take a 53-43 lead into the final quarter.
Both sides struggled scoring in the final quarter, with Keiser dominating defensively, going on a 12-5 scoring run over three quarters of the period, taking a 65-48 lead with just two minutes left in the game. Over the final two minutes, the Mariners found some offense, but it was not enough as Keiser came into Coffin Gym and defeated the Mariners 69-56.
Webb and Butler both finished with 11 points, while Gardner was held scoreless in the second half and finished with 10. CCGA shot just 32 percent from the field and 21 percent from three, leading to the loss.
CCGA has another quick turnaround as Florida Memorial travels to Brunswick for another Sun Conference matchup on Wednesday. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. from Coffin Gym.
