Bluffton, South Carolina – The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's basketball team wrapped up the 2025 Regional Challenge at home on Saturday, as UVA Wise used a strong first half to build a lead, before closing a 78–72 win over the Sand Sharks. USCB used a strong third quarter outscoring the Cavaliers by nine but the second half comeback bid fell short.
The loss drops USCB to 1–1 on the season, as UVA Wise moves to 2-0 on the year.
Lydia Gattozzi led the Sand Sharks with a team high 21 points, one of three players to reach double figures along with Janiyah Heyward and Izellah Kendrick. As a team, USCB collected 15 offensive rebounds, led in rebounding by Heyward with six.
The Cavaliers opened the game with the first four points and held the advantage until the Sand Sharks responded by scoring seven of the next nine to take their first lead at 7–6, highlighted by four points from Taniyah Bowman. The teams traded baskets, and a three-pointer from Samantha Bardonaro tied the score at 10–10 late in the first quarter. However, UVA Wise closed the period on a 10–4 run to take a six-point lead into the second quarter at 20-14.
UVA Wise extended its lead to 10 early in the second quarter and later pushed its largest advantage to 15. Kendrick knocked down a three-pointer late in the half to trim the deficit to eight, but a Cavaliers jumper in the final minute sent USCB into halftime trailing 37–25.
Madison Self opened the second-half scoring for USCB after a steal by Heyward set up a layup. The Cavaliers maintained a nine-point lead until the 4:38 mark, when Elly Lewis hit her first three-pointer to cut the deficit to six and spark a Sand Sharks run. Courtney Campbell brought the margin down to four, and Gattozzi scored the next five points to pull USCB within three heading into the fourth quarter after the Sand Sharks outscored UVA Wise by nine and forced five turnovers in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, UVA Wise scored the first five points to regain an eight-point cushion. USCB answered with back-to-back threes to make it 61–58 with five minutes remaining. Heyward capped an 8–0 run with a layup to bring the Sand Sharks within one. USCB cut the deficit to a single point two more times, but UVA Wise held off the Sand Sharks down the stretch to hold on for the 78–72 victory.
USC Beaufort is home on Wednesday, November 19, hosting Florida Tech at 5:30 p.m. at The Cove.
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