BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) Women's Basketball team closed out the season series against Clayton State while finishing the home portion of their regular season schedule. The Sand Sharks honored senior Lydia Gattozzi on Saturday evening, who led the team to a commanding 76-53 victory with a game-high 25 points.
USCB improved to 17-9 overall and 14-5 in Peach Belt Conference play, while Clayton State fell to 10-15 on the season and 7-11 in conference action.
Gattozzi led a balanced Sand Sharks offense, one of four players to score in double figures on the night, joined by Taniyah Bowman, Bri Pelote, and Janiyah Heyward. USCB dominated inside the paint, scoring 46 of their 76 points in the paint.
The Sand Sharks got on the board first with a three-pointer from Samantha Bardonaro, assisted by Taniyah Bowman, giving USCB a 3-0 lead just over a minute into the game. Gattozzi followed with a layup off a defensive rebound, sparking a 12-0 run in the opening two and a half minutes. The team shot 5-of-6 from the floor and forced two turnovers during the stretch, with Gattozzi scoring six points. Clayton State's first basket came at the 5:56 mark on a three-pointer. The Lakers then scored five straight before Gattozzi extended the lead to 22-7, a 15-point advantage. USCB carried a double-digit lead into the second quarter, 22-10.
In the second quarter, after Clayton State scored first, Gattozzi responded with two points to reach 10 in the first half. Jada Young added her first basket, assisted by Carolina Coria, as USCB maintained the 15-point advantage. Taniyah Bowman countered each Clayton State run, scoring her 10th point midway through the quarter. Janiyah Heyward's shot with just under a minute left sent the Sand Sharks into halftime leading 39-25.
Heyward opened the second half with a basket before Clayton State responded. The Lakers cut the Sand Sharks lead to 10, but Gattozzi scored eight consecutive points, pushing USCB ahead 55-38. The Sand Sharks held an 18-point lead, 57-39, heading into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth, Pelote scored her 10th point, extending the lead to 20. Gattozzi added her 20th point shortly after and hit her second three-pointer to make it 66-43 with seven minutes remaining. USCB stretched the lead to as many as 25 points before Clayton State's final shot, securing a 76-53 victory.
The Sand Sharks have one final regular-season game before postseason play. USCB closes out the season at North Georgia on Saturday, February 28.
