The Georgia Gwinnett College women's basketball team dropped its first contest of the season, losing 66-58 to Spartanburg Methodist College (South Carolina) on Thursday evening in the Convocation Center.

Spartanburg Methodist (3-0) made three 3-point field goals, many at crucial times in the game, and outscored the Grizzlies (2-1) by a 23-15 margin during the fourth quarter.

GGC had a 51-46 lead following a layup in transition by junior Nylaa Fuller with 6:43 remaining in the game.

That's when the visiting Pioneers used a 14-2 run over the next five minutes to grab a seven-point advantage, at 60-53, after a 3-point play by Najah Gilliam. A big basket during the stretch was a 3-pointer by Zy Bell.

The Grizzlies rebounded from a slow start to have a 20-point second quarter that gave them a 28-27 halftime lead. A layup from junior Maddie Presha gave the hosts the lead midway through the quarter. The forward scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the game.

Thursday's contest featured five lead changes and four ties.

GGC freshman Christen Collins chipped in 10 points, while sophomore Jamya Griffin and freshman Christal Collins scored nine and eight points, respectively. Griffin grabbed 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies.
 
Coach's Corner
"We didn't play our best and didn't shoot the ball well. I thought Spartanburg Methodist did a good job of being ready to play. The good thing is that we play again in 48 hours and have a chance to redeem ourselves. We will make some adjustments and be ready to go on Saturday," said Head Coach Tory Wooley.
 
Turning Point
Spartanburg Methodist used a 14-2 run over a five-minute span in the fourth quarter to take a 60-53 lead. Zy Bell connected on a 3-pointer to give the visitors a 57-53 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the contest.
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC scored 30 points in the paint on Thursday
• The team forced 22 Spartanburg Methodist turnovers
• Junior Maddie Presha led the team with 17 points
• Spartanburg Methodist shot 36.8 percent from the floor, compared to GGC's 32.3 percent shooting

News & Notes

• GGC falls to 2-1 on the season; Spartanburg Methodist improves 3-0 this winter
• Thursday's contest featured five lead changes and four ties
• The Grizzlies outrebounded Spartanburg Methodist by a 43-40 margin
• GGC and Spartanburg Methodist are scheduled to meet again on November 8 in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Bluefield University (Virginia) on Saturday, November 1, in the Convocation Center, starting at 1 p.m.