by Katie Parker, sports information graduate assistant
>>>boxscore
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Georgia College &
State University women's basketball team (16-8, 11-6 PBC) took No.
11 Francis Marion University (24-1, 17-1 PBC) down to the wire
falling 72-69 for Homecoming tonight (Feb. 21) in the Centennial
Center.
Down five with 39 seconds left after a pair of Dominique Powell
free throws, Georgia College had a missed shot trickle out of
bounds off a Patriot player. On the ensuing in-bounds, unable to
find someone, Shandrea Moore (Ft.
Lauderdale, Fla.) tossed it in to a heavily-covered
Mandi
Dudish (Snellville, Ga.). FMU's Jennifer Dyer tried
for the steal missed and left Dudish open for a jumper to cut the
lead to three.
The Patriots missed the front end of a free-throw attempt on the
other end, resulting in a give-and-go fast break at the other end
for a Tiauna Brantley
(Woodstock, Ga.) lay-up and a 70-69 deficit with 14
seconds left.
The Patriots, ever ready for the speed game, quickly got down
the floor in five seconds, hitting their own lay-in with nine ticks
left to stretch it back to three. An off-balance three with three
seconds caromed to the Patriots, and the game was retired from
there.
A big story for GCSU was how Bobcat guard Emily Bixler
(Lawrenceville, Ga.) stepped up and played big for the
last home game of her collegiate career posting her first
double-double of the season. The senior was lights out from the
charity stripe making 13-of-13 and leading the team with 19 points
for the night. In addition to being perfect from the line, she also
managed to snag 12 boards and block three shots. The senior's 13
free-throws are the most by a Bobcat since Feb. 16, 2002, when
Betsy Foy hit 14.
Bixler's classmate Brantley was the second Bobcat recording a
double-double tonight, her third for the 2008-09 campaign. After
sitting out a game due to illness, the guard came back ready to
fight for rebounds strapping up a team high of 15 for the night.
Brantley scored double-digits for the 17th time this
season putting up 14 points tonight.
Other noteworthy 'Cats tonight scoring double digits were
guards Moore and Dudish. Moore recorded 12 points, seven assists,
four rebounds and three steals. Dudish helped with 11 points and
three boards.
Unfortunately, Georgia College's four double-digit scorers could
not over power the Patriots three leaders. Eboni Fields led the
team with 18 while Creshenda Singletary claimed 14 points and Shana
Franks helped with 13.
The run-and-gun Patriots led from end-to-end, scoring the first
points of the game just 11 seconds in.
Despite the Bobcat loss they maintain third place in the Peach
Belt Conference (PBC) standings, one game in the loss column ahead
of both USC Aiken and Lander University.
GCSU is back in action Wednesday, Feb. 25 on the road against
UNC Pembroke tipping off at 5:30 p.m.
Visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate
your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics
Hall of Fame. The GCSU Department of Athletics sponsors 10 varsity
athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II
program, GCU prides itself on balancing the life of the
student-athlete, evidenced by the Bobcats' multiple appearances in
post-season competition as well as documented academic success and
community-service involvement.
