AMERICUS, Ga. - The Georgia College & State University Women's Basketball team (13-11, 5-9 PBC) took the fight to Peach Belt Conference (PBC) leader and national No. 22 Georgia Southwestern State University (19-4, 11-3 PBC) Saturday, falling 66-63 on the road. 

The Bobcats used a strong fourth quarter to nearly pull off the upset. GSW scored the first two points of the game and never trailed. The Hurricanes' lead reached a height of 15 points near the end of the third quarter. 

GCSU battled back in the fourth, out-scoring GSW 19-8, led by all eight of sophomore Ashyia Willis' (Gainesville) points for the game, including a layup to tie the game at 62-62 with 2:09 left. 

GSW responded with a jump shot, and after a Bobcat free-throw cut it to one, the Hurricanes pushed the lead back to three with another layup with 15 seconds left. The Bobcats turned it over on their final possession to fall by three.

Junior Dashaun Jackson (Miramar, Florida) exploded for 22 points with five rebounds, going 10-for-15 from the floor, leading all scorers. The effort bests her previous Bobcat career high of 12, set Nov. 16, 2022. 

Junior Myra Strickland (Duluth) added a 10-point effort with five rebounds of her own. 

The loss puts the Bobcats at 5-9 in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) standings, positioned eighth with three conference games remaining. The top eight teams advance to the PBC Tournament, beginning March 1.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m., traveling to Lander University.

Owning the top Academic Success Rate among public schools in Division II, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won three-straight Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. 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.