MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Women's Basketball team (2-0) beat 2021-22 NCAA Tournament Qualifier Barton College (0-2) 74-68 Saturday to finish both team's effort in the Peach Belt/Conference Carolinas Challenge at the Centennial Center.

The game was extremely close throughout, despite the Bobcats leading for nearly the entire contest. The Bulldogs had it down to a one-point advantage multiple times in the second half, but could never take the lead or tie. Barton trailed by just a single point as late as the 3:40 mark in the fourth at 63-62, but GCSU closed the final stretch with a 12-6 run.

Sophomore sharpshooter Alexa Geary (Calhoun) led the scoring effort for GCSU with 17 points, also pulling in five rebounds. Junior Myra Strickland (Duluth) was one tick behind with 16 points, leading the bench charge. Senior Harper Vick's (Marietta) 15 points and sophomore Ashyia Willis' (Gainesville) 10 rounded out the double-digit scorers. Senior Cassidy Markle (Cumming) brought in nine boards, leading GCSU to beat Barton on the glass 44-37.

The Bobcats won despite losing the turnover battle 14-9. They did so with the aforementioned rebounding and adding a 34-26 advantage in points in the paint.

GCSU Women's Hoops moves to 2-0 for the first time since 2016-17. That year, the Bobcats had a 4-0 start to the season. The win events out the all-time series between the Bobcats and Bulldogs at 2-2.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m., playing host to Limestone University.

As a proud recipient of the 2021 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GC Athletics is now two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the league's sportsmanship honor. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.