MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College Women's Basketball team (12-5, 6-4 PBC) got a historic defensive effort in the 70-41 victory over Georgia Southwestern State University (11-7, 6-5 PBC) Saturday in the Centennial Center.

The Bobcats, entering the contest fifth in the nation in defensive field goal shooting, improved on that number, holding the Hurricanes to just 19.1 percent from the field on a 9-of-47 effort. Georgia College's suffocating defense got stronger as the day went along, with GSW hitting just 3-for-25 in the second half.

The Hurricanes got the first point of the game on a free throw at the 8:32 mark in the first quarter, but never led again. Senior Veronica Ryan (Clearwater, Florida) hit a three from the left corner to get the scoring started for the Bobcats, keying a 13-5 run for the remainder of the quarter. The Bobcats pulled further apart with 10-point advantages in both the third and fourth frames, 17-7 and 20-10.

Ryan led the balanced Bobcat attack with 11 points, shooting 4-for-5 including three from long range. Thirteen different Bobcats reached the scoring column, including six at five points or better. Junior Alyah McGriff (Suwanee) had a balanced day of eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high six blocks. Senior Ellie Fruit (Henderson, Kentucky) added a late punch, hitting 3-for-4 for eight fourth-quarter points.

The Bobcats hit 49 percent from the field (28-57) as a team and held a 36-4 advantage in points in the paint. The defensive effort of 19 percent shooting is the best during the Maurice Smith era, topping the 20 percent put forth by Albany State University this season.

The win puts Georgia College at 6-4 in conference play, good for fourth in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) West Division. The top four teams advance to the PBC Tournament beginning Feb. 25.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m., traveling to Clayton State University.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on social media for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.