BRADENTON, Fla. - It was a complete route on Saturday night of the New College of Florida Mighty Banyan by the College of Coastal Georgia women's basketball team as they defeated NCF by 20 points, getting them one step closer to the conference tournament.
It was fully aware that the trip for the Mariners (11-9, 4-8 SUN) was a business trip as they came out on fire starting on a 10-0 run over the first three and a half minutes of the game. CCGA got four points from Alli Stone during the run, giving them the early advantage. The Mariners did cool off and the Mighty Banyan (9-14, 2-10 SUN) found their footing offensively, out scoring the Mariners 9-5 over the final six minutes as CCGA led 15-9 going into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the Mariners wasted no time jumping right back on the offensive gas pedal, out scoring the Mighty Banyan 24-9 in the quarter allowing NCF to shoot just 10 times in the period. CCGA started the quarter on a 15-0 run, getting five points each from Maylei Noreika and Bre Fowler in the process to balloon their lead up to 30-9. NCF bounced back as much as they could, but seven points from Taylor Gardner and Fowler in the quarter helped the Mariners build a 39-18 halftime lead.
Gardner led the Mariners with 14 points on 5-9 shooting at the break while Fowler followed with seven. CCGA shot 42 percent in the quarter from the field while holding the Mighty Banyan to just 33 percent.
The Mighty Banyan wasted no time out of the halftime break, starting the third quarter on an 11-4 run to cut into the Mariners lead, trimming it all the way down to as low as 12 at one point in the quarter. CCGA was able to weather the quick storm from NCF, ending the quarter on a 16-2 run, fuelled by six points from Peyton Shafer and five from Tyler Butler to take a 64-38 lead into the fourth and final quarter.
In the fourth, the Mighty Banyan actually outscored the Mariners 19-13 in the period, but the time to stand was too little too late as the Mariners took the conference bout by 20 points, winning 77-57.
Four Mariners finished in double figures led by Gardner who finished with her first half total of 14 points. Morgon Webb finished with 13, Shafer finished with 12, and Noreika poured in 10 of her own. CCGA finished shooting 41 percent from the field and 25 percent from three, dominating the Mighty Banyan for their fourth conference win of the season.
The win helps the Mariners cause for a berth in the Sun Conference tournament, a place they have not been since the 2018-19 season. CCGA hold the number six seed by one game over the Warner Royals, a team they split with this season with five games to play.
CCGA returns to action on Monday as they welcome in the Keiser Seahawks for their make-up matchup due to the ice storm that hit the coast several weeks ago. Tip off is set for 4:00 p.m. from Howard Coffin Gym.
