BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's basketball team knocked off the first place team in the Peach Belt Conference on Saturday afternoon, as the Sand Sharks closed out a thrilling 68–64 victory over North Georgia. Janiyah Heyward delivered the game-winning shot to break a tie in the closing minute at The Cove on Novant Health Court.
With the win, the Sand Sharks improve to 10–7 on the season and 7–3 in conference play, marking their second straight victory. North Georgia falls to 12–7 overall and 7–2 in the Peach Belt.
USCB was led by Taniyah Bowman, who scored a game-high 26 points while adding six rebounds and a steal. Heyward followed by adding 25 points and six rebounds, as the duo combined for 51 of the team's 68 points.
Heyward opened the scoring with a jump shot for an early 2–0 lead. North Georgia answered by taking its first lead at 6–4, but Bowman quickly tied the game, sparking a 6–0 run that included Samantha Bardonaro's first points of the afternoon. During a two-minute stretch, the Sand Sharks held the Nighthawks without a shot attempt, forcing three turnovers to build a 12–8 lead.
In a back-and-forth opening quarter, North Georgia tied the score three times in the final three minutes before a driving layup in the closing seconds gave the Nighthawks a 19–17 lead at the end of the first.
Bri Pelote opened the second quarter with a layup off an assist from Elly Lewis. A strong defensive stretch for USCB in the second quarter holding the Nighthawks to nine points. Lydia Gattozzi pushed the Sand Sharks back in front with her first point of the game. USCB held North Georgia scoreless for the opening two minutes of the quarter before the visitors tied the game. Bowman and Heyward then combined for six straight points at the midway mark to reclaim the lead.
The Sand Sharks limited North Georgia to just 3-of-19 shooting in the quarter, outscoring the Nighthawks 16–9 to take a 33–28 halftime lead following late points from Heyward.
North Georgia opened the third quarter with a basket from Averie Jones, but the teams soon traded three-pointers as Bardonaro responded to keep USCB ahead by five. After the Sand Sharks' lead was trimmed to one, Heyward and Bardonaro combined for consecutive baskets to push the advantage back to five. The teams traded scores down the stretch, and Pelote sent USCB into the fourth quarter with a 45–41 lead.
The Nighthawks struck first in the final quarter as Kendall Emener completed a three-point play just over a minute in, cutting the lead to 45–44. Bowman answered to extend the lead to three, but North Georgia responded with back to back three-point plays to tie the game at 47. The visitors then scored four straight to regain a 51–49 advantage.
Heyward answered for the Sand Sharks, and Izellah Kendrick followed with her first points of the game to put USCB back on top. Heyward scored four straight points to give USCB a three-point cushion with two minutes remaining, but Hannah Cali tied the game at 59–59 with a three-pointer.
After a scoreless minute, Heyward drilled a clutch three with 44 seconds remaining to give the Sand Sharks a 62–59 lead. USCB sealed the victory at the free-throw line, as Bowman knocked down six straight foul shots to secure the 68–64 win over the top team in the conference.
The Sand Sharks return to action on Saturday January 24th at 1:30 p.m. hosting the University of South Carolina Aiken at The Cove on Novant Health Court.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
