CCG Athletics
Val Every
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The College of Coastal Georgia Mariners (8-8, 6-7) fell just shy to the St. Thomas University Bobcats (13-3, 10-3), 76-73.
The first quarter was neck and neck as the two teams battled it out. Coastal Georgia’s biggest lead was only three points and St. Thomas’s largest lead was six points. The Mariners finished on top, leading 19-18 at the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, Coastal Georgia kicked up their shooting percentage from the field to 60.0 percent from last quarters 43.8 percent. Each team finished with 14 points, making the final score at the half 33-32 in the Mariner’s favor.
At the half, Porter was the leading scorer for the Mariners with nine points. Simmons was the leading rebounder, collecting seven boards at the half.
St. Thomas made important strides in the third quarter, scoring 26 points to the Mariners 21. Despite Coastal Georgia’s best effort, including outscoring the Bobcats 19-18 in the fourth quarter, the Mariners would fall just one possession short.
The Mariners shot 49.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from behind the arc, and 58.1 percent at the foul line as a team. In contrast, the Bobcats shot 41.8 percent from the field, 36 percent from behind the arc, and 73.3 percent from the foul line. Coastal Georgia finished 10 points off of turnovers, 13 second-chance points, 35 rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks.
Despite having nearly similar shooting percentages on three-point field goals, the Bobcats finished with nine while Coastal Georgia only made three. This difference contributed to their loss.
Kaliyah Little was the leading scorer for the Mariners, recording a team-high 20 points. Little shot 42.1 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from the free-throw line. She took twice as many shots as anyone else on the Mariner team. Little also added two blocks, a game-high.
Quira Porter contributed significantly to the Coastal Georgia offense, putting up 15 points. Porter also added a team-high three steals.
The leading rebounder for the team, Sophia Simmons recorded 11 boards. She also nabbed a double-double finishing with 13 points. This was the second double-double of her Mariner career.
The Mariners will face the Webber International Warriors at home this Thursday, Feb. 4. The tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.