Boxscore
PIKE CREEK, Del. – Trailing 51-50 with 11 seconds left in regulation, freshman forward Devonne Richardson took the ball coast-to-coast and converted what proved to be the game-winning layup with just four seconds left in the game as the Goldey-Beacom College women's basketball team completed the season sweep of its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference foe Georgian Court with a stunning, 52-51 victory at the Joseph West Jones Center Thurs. night.
Richardson finished with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while redshirt sophomore guard Jacinda Jones provided most of the offensive firepower as the only Lightning scorer in double-figures with 19 points.
The Lightning improved to 13-10 overall and 9-6 in the CACC while GCU fell to 8-15 overall and 6-10 in league play. GBC has now won the last nine meetings with Georgian Court and improved to 8-0 against the Lions at home.
GBC, which led 26-23 at halftime, never trailed in the second half until the 1:05 mark. The Lightning led by seven (48-41) after a Hudson layup at 3:19, but two free-throws by Marley-Anne Mauvais (four points, five rebounds) and then seven consecutive points by the Lions' leading scorer Shawna Wert (16 points, four rebounds, three assists), capped by a three-pointer at 1:05, gave GCU a 50-48 lead.
Jones answered for the Lightning, going coast-to-coast with a clear path to the basket and making a clutch layup to send the game to a 50-50 tie. On the next possession, GBC forced a miss by the Lions' Christina White, but GCU's Shaniqua Bacote (two points, seven rebounds) came up with a huge offensive rebound and drew a Lightning foul with 11 seconds left on the clock. Bacote would go to the line shooting a one-and-one.
Bacote, just 1-of-2 from the line on the night up to that point, made the first to put GCU ahead 51-50, but missed the second. Richardson corralled the rebound, took the ball straight to the basket, and converted a contested layup with just four seconds left in regulation, sending the Lightning bench into a frenzy.
GCU immediately called a timeout, and on the ensuing possession, Dee Varley (16 points, eight rebounds) took a desperation half-court heave, but it was off the mark as GBC held on for the narrow, 52-51 victory.
GCU held a slim 37-36 rebounding advantage, but it was GBC who owned a 26-12 edge in points in the paint. The Lightning also forced 18 Lion turnovers to their 14, and cashed in for 22 points off of those GCU miscues while the Lions were not so opportunistic and only scored 12 off of turnovers. GBC's bench was also a big factor, as it doubled-up GCU's bench, 14-7. Freshmen forwards Akilah Sewell and Irene Hudson were the high-scorers off the bench for GBC with six points apiece.
The Lightning remain in third place in the CACC South Division standings, and will now play their next three games on the road, beginning with CACC North Division foe Felician College on Sat., Feb. 20 at 1 p.m.
