The Coastal Georgia Mariners struggled offensively in a 81-64 home loss to Webber International on Saturday afternoon in Brunswick, Georgia, as a tough third quarter derailed the plans for the Mariners.
The Mariners opened strong, taking a 23-16 advantage after the first quarter behind solid shooting and balanced scoring. Coastal Georgia shot 43.8 percent from the field in the opening period, including 50 percent from three-point range, while getting contributions from multiple players. However, the game turned drastically in the third quarter when the Mariners managed just seven points on 2-of-17 shooting from the field and 1-of-11 from beyond the arc.
That catastrophic third quarter, which saw Webber outscore Coastal Georgia 22-7, proved to be the difference as the Warriors took control and never looked back. The Mariners trailed 59-46 heading into the fourth quarter and were unable to mount a serious comeback despite improved shooting in the final period.
Alli Stone led the Mariners with 13 points on 3-of-10 shooting, adding three rebounds and two steals. Stone was effective at the free-throw line, converting 5-of-6 attempts, but struggled with her field goal efficiency throughout the contest.
Abby Shepard added 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc as she finished 4-of-11 from three-point range. Shepard provided a spark in the fourth quarter with several timely three-pointers that kept the deficit from ballooning further, but the Mariners' comeback attempts fell short.
Taylor Blackshear contributed 10 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting performance while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds. Blackshear also dished out five assists and recorded a block, showcasing her versatility despite the team's struggles. Her presence in the paint was one of the few bright spots for the Mariners, though she committed three turnovers in difficult game conditions.
Amanda Roach scored nine points on 3-of-9 shooting, including 1-of-4 from three-point range, while adding four rebounds. Hadiya Kennerly came off the bench to provide nine points on 2-of-7 shooting, converting all four of her free-throw attempts. Niya Moon added eight points but struggled from the field, finishing 3-of-11 overall and 2-of-9 from three-point range.
The Mariners' offensive woes were evident in their overall shooting numbers. Coastal Georgia finished just 34.4 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three-point range, well below their season averages. The team's 11.76 percent shooting in the third quarter was particularly alarming and highlighted the offensive drought that cost them the game.
Webber International was paced by Jaiden Ross's 21 points, including an impressive 10-of-12 performance from the free-throw line. Adaya Montalvo came off the bench to add 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, providing crucial scoring when the Warriors needed it most. Camryn Patterson contributed 16 points and six rebounds, while Isabel Negron chipped in eight points.
The Warriors dominated in the paint, outscoring the Mariners 38-12 in that area, and capitalized on Coastal Georgia's 20 turnovers by scoring 14 points off those mistakes. Webber also held a significant advantage on the boards, pulling down 32 rebounds compared to the Mariners' 24.
While Coastal Georgia held a slight edge in second-chance points (4) and matched Webber's 14 points off turnovers, the inability to score consistently from anywhere on the floor proved costly. The Mariners' bench was also shut out entirely, with all scoring coming from the starting lineup and key reserves.
The loss drops Coastal Georgia's record to 13-6 overall and 3-4 in conference play as they search for answers on the offensive end.
