The Georgia Gwinnett College women's basketball team scored 30 points in a pivotal third quarter to pull away for a 76-49 victory against Florida National University to begin the Continental Athletic Conference Classic on Friday evening in the Convocation Center.

The Grizzlies (16-6) nearly matched their offensive first-half output in the decisive third 10-minute stanza. The team made 64.3 percent of its field goals and went 10-of-11 from the free throw line to outscore the Conquistadors (11-12) by a 30-12 margin during the period.

The hosts held a slim 33-29 lead after the opening 20 minutes of action.

GGC then opened the second half on an 11-0 offensive run that was capped by a fastbreak layup from sophomore Jamya Griffin midway through the third quarter. A 3-point field goal from junior Peyton Hearvey stretched the lead to 17 points, at 50-35, with six minutes remaining in the period.

A basket from freshman Christal Collins gave the Grizzlies a commanding 59-35 advantage with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

The two teams matched each other throughout the early going of the contest, with Florida National leading 19-17 after the opening 10-minute stanza.

Midway through the second quarter, junior Shayla Sandiford scored a layup with a cross court assist from Griffin to tie the contest at 21-21. Later, freshman Hope Taylor made a jump shot that gave GGC the lead for good. Junior Maddie Presha converted an inside jump shot following an offensive rebound to push the margin to three points, at 29-26, with four minutes left in the first half.

The Grizzlies had five double-figure scorers to record their ninth straight victory. Griffin led the way with 17 points, including a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Freshman Christen Collins scored 11 of her 12 points during the crucial third quarter. Presha came off the bench to add 13 points, while Christal Collins and junior Laila Williams each chipped in 11 points.

GGC has held its last eight opponents to 50 or fewer points and the team's third-quarter performances have been a key to success.
 


Coach's Corner
"Today was a great team win. We had five players in double figures. Jamya (Griffin) and Maddie (Presha) had great first halves, while Christal (Collins) and Laila (Williams) gave us great bench production. We had a big third quarter that created some separation in the game," said Head Coach Tory Wooley.
 
Turning Point
An aggressive offensive third quarter and strong defensive performance turned the Grizzlies' four-point halftime lead into a comfortable double-digit margin in the third quarter. The team tallied 30 points during the decisive third 10-minute period. GGC opened the second half with an 11-0 offensive run. Six different players scored for the team during the third quarter.
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies made 45.6 percent of their field goals, compared to Florida National shooting 35.4 percent in the contest
• Sophomore Jamya Griffin scored a game-high 17 points
• Both teams grabbed 34 rebounds, with GGC securing 11 offensive boards
• GGC scored 33 points after forcing Florida National into 30 turnovers

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 16-6 on the season; Florida National drops to 11-12 in 2025-26
• The Grizzlies extended their winning streak to a season-best nine straight games
• Georgia Gwinnett College and Florida National are members of the Continental Athletic Conference
• The team has held its last eight opponents to 50 or fewer points

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the CAC Classic against Fisher College (Massachusetts) on Saturday, February 7, in the Convocation Center, starting at 5:30 p.m.