BLUFFTON, South Carolina – The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's basketball team faced Georgia College & State University on Wednesday evening in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The Bobcats used a strong third quarter to take a lead into the fourth before closing out a 78–63 win over the Sand Sharks.
USCB was led in scoring by Lydia Gattozzi with 17 points, along with Taniyah Bowman, who added 16 points on the evening. Gattozzi and Izellah Kendrick each had a team-high four rebounds, while three different players recorded two assists.
Bri Pelote started the scoring in the game with an offensive rebound put-back layup for an early 2–0 lead over the Bobcats. Pelote scored the first four of the six points for USCB, helping the Sand Sharks jump out to a 10–6 lead after Bowman scored her fourth point of the game. The Bobcats took their first lead on a three-pointer to go ahead 11–10. Kendrick then scored four straight for the Sand Sharks with a step-back jump shot for a 14–11 lead. After the game was tied at 14–14, Gattozzi scored four straight points, followed by two from Bowman for a 20–14 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
After an opening basket in the second quarter by the Bobcats, Pelote started the scoring in the quarter for the Sand Sharks to make it 22–16. The Sand Sharks stretched the lead to eight, the largest at that point in the game, after Carolina Coria scored her first two points. The Bobcats closed the gap to 24–22 before the Sand Sharks pushed the lead back to seven at 29–22. A late Georgia College & State run put the visitors ahead 32–31 before the teams traded baskets after Madison Self scored her fourth point of the half. However, a Bobcats basket in the closing seconds sent them into halftime with a 34–33 lead.
In the third quarter, the two teams traded baskets early as Bowman hit a driving layup to cut the deficit to 36–35. However, the Bobcats used an 8–0 run to take a nine-point lead, their largest of the quarter at 46–37, shooting 4-of-6 during the run. Gattozzi ended the run with a layup assisted by Kendrick. At the 3:41 mark of the third quarter, the Bobcats pushed their lead to double digits for the first time at 51–41. Gattozzi hit a layup off a steal for her 10th point of the game. The Bobcats led 59–47 after a late basket in the third quarter.
Bowman opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with an early basket before Gattozzi followed with her 13th point of the game, bringing the deficit back to single digits. A three-pointer by the Bobcats at the 5:41 mark of the fourth quarter pushed their lead back to 14. Georgia College & State closed out the fourth quarter and secured the 78–63 victory in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.
The Sand Sharks move to 18–10 on the season. The Peach Belt Conference Tournament will continue Saturday and Sunday with the semifinals and championship games.
