Coastal Georgia survived a furious late comeback by St. Thomas Saturday afternoon in Brunswick, pulling off a 74-72 victory to improve to 16-7 overall and 6-5 in conference play.
Alli Stone was magnificent, pouring in a game-high 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting in 24 minutes of work. The forward was particularly dominant in the third quarter, scoring nine points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting stretch that helped the Mariners build their largest lead of the game. Stone also contributed a block on the final possession to seal the win, tipping away a desperate St. Thomas layup attempt in the closing seconds.
Hadiya Kennerly provided crucial support with 15 points on an efficient 4-of-6 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Kennerly hit particularly timely free throws in the fourth quarter, converting both shots to push the lead to seven with just over four minutes remaining. Taylor Blackshear came off the bench and delivered 13 points along with seven rebounds and two steals, including the game's most important play — a steal with six seconds left that effectively sealed the victory.
The Mariners built their cushion in the first half, taking a 40-29 lead into the break after an impressive second quarter in which they shot 55.6 percent from the field. Coastal Georgia stretched the advantage to as many as 18 points early in the third quarter, appearing to have the contest well in hand before St. Thomas mounted a relentless charge in the final period.
St. Thomas outscored Coastal Georgia 23-17 in the fourth quarter, with bench reserves Jaliyah Weekes and Madison Lippy leading the charge. Weekes finished with 15 points and Lippy added 10, and the two combined to spark a run that cut the deficit to just one point with 35 seconds remaining on a Maddie Scharrenberg layup.
But Coastal Georgia held firm when it mattered most. After St. Thomas pulled within 73-72, the Mariners ran out the clock until a turnover by Stone with 14 seconds left gave the visitors one final chance. Blackshear's steal moments later forced St. Thomas to foul, and she converted one of two free throws to make it a two-point game. A final Morgan Taylor layup attempt was blocked by Stone at the buzzer, preserving the victory.
Kyla Raven played a key supporting role without scoring a single point, hauling in nine rebounds — all on the offensive glass — while providing physical toughness throughout the contest. Her presence on the boards kept Coastal Georgia's possession count high during crucial stretches.
The Mariners struggled in the fourth quarter, shooting just 28.6 percent from the field and making only one of four three-point attempts. The shooting slump opened the door for St. Thomas, and Coastal Georgia was fortunate to escape with a win given how the final minutes unfolded. Paris Miller added six points in 16 minutes off the bench, while Niya Moon chipped in five in limited playing time.
The victory represents a significant step forward for Coastal Georgia, who have now won two straight and climbed to six wins in conference play. The ability to hold on despite a dramatic late rally shows a maturity and composure that will serve the Mariners well as they push deeper into the conference schedule.
