AMERICUS, Ga. – Behind another electric scoring performance from
Ray'ven Robinson and a decisive third-quarter push, Georgia Southwestern earned a 61-53 Peach Belt Conference win over the University of North Georgia on Wednesday evening in the Storm Dome.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak to the Nighthawks but marked GSW's fifth win in the last six meetings against UNG in Americus.
Robinson Continues Her Tear
Robinson once again led the way, pouring in a game-high 23 points for her second straight 20-point outing and the fifth time this season she has eclipsed the 20-point mark.
Robinson scored at all three levels, knocking down 9-of-22 from the floor and adding five rebounds and two steals. She helped steady the Hurricanes during a tightly contested first half that featured eight ties and eight lead changes.
Storm Dome Advantage
After leading 19-12 at the end of the first quarter, Georgia Southwestern weathered a second-quarter push from North Georgia but took a slim 29-30 deficit into halftime.
The Hurricanes responded emphatically in the third.
GSW shot 57 percent in the period and held the Nighthawks to just 3-of-16 shooting (18.8 percent) in the quarter. The Hurricanes outscored UNG 19-7 in the frame, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a double-digit lead.
From there, Georgia Southwestern controlled the pace, leading for 33:47 of game time and building the margin to as many as 15 in the fourth quarter.
Defense Sets the Tone
Defense was the difference throughout the night.
The Hurricanes forced 19 UNG turnovers, collecting 15 steals and converting those opportunities into key transition chances. GSW also held the Nighthawks to 34.5 percent shooting and just 3-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Shane' Jackson anchored the interior with 14 rebounds and four blocks, helping GSW win the rebounding battle 41-36 and limit UNG to just five second-chance points.
Balanced Support
Madison Brittle added 12 points, including a pair of fourth-quarter three-pointers that halted any late Nighthawk momentum.
Janiya Johnson chipped in 11 points, while
Tiara Hozumi contributed eight points and four assists.
Though both benches were quiet, GSW's starting five accounted for 58 of the team's 61 points in a composed, wire-controlled conference victory.
By the Numbers
- 10 – Free throws made by UNG marks their lowest total this season
- 15 - Steals by GSW marks their second-highest total in a game this season
- 19-7 – Third-quarter scoring advantage for GSW that flipped a one-point halftime deficit into control
- 3-of-16 (18.8%) – North Georgia's shooting in the third quarter
- 33:47 – Time led by the Lady Hurricanes
- 19 – Turnovers forced by GSW
- 14 – Rebounds by Shane' Jackson to anchor the interior
With the win, the Lady Hurricanes improve to 10-12 overall and 6-9 in Peach Belt play, strengthening their position for the PBC Tournament as the regular season heads toward its final stretch.
Next Up
The Lady Hurricanes close out the regular season with four of their final five games on the road, starting with a trip to USC Beaufort on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. game.
