STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern women's basketball team used a 15-2 fourth quarter run to pick up a 68-63 victory over the College of Coastal Georgia in the Eagles' 2017-18 home opener on Monday evening at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Eagles (1-1) won their home opener for a second straight year. Coastal Georgia, an NAIA school from Brunswick, Ga., came into the contest with a 3-1 mark, but the game is considered an exhibition for the Mariners. Georgia Southern returns to action on Thursday, visiting Mercer for an in-state clash with the Bears at 7 p.m.

The Eagles and the Mariners began the game shooting well from beyond the arc as each team combined to shoot 50 percent from three-point range in the first quarter. Georgia Southern and Coastal Georgia were tied 22-all heading into the second quarter, when both teams started to struggle from the floor. Each team scored just four points in the first five minutes.

A three-pointer by Alexis Foulks - halting an 0-for-7 stretch from beyond the arc for the Eagles - gave Georgia Southern a 36-35 lead with just over a minute left to play. A Rhein Beamon free throw pushed the lead to two with 29 seconds left, but Coastal Georgia's Remny Felts drained a three with four seconds left to give the Mariners a 38-37 halftime lead.

Cold shooting for the Eagles continued in the third period as Georgia Southern went 0-for-12 from the floor until a Jakayvea Akins basket with six seconds left in the quarter finally stopped the drought. Coastal Georgia hit 55 percent from the floor in the frame to take a 51-45 lead into the final period.

But the fourth quarter was a different story as a Nakol Franks three-pointer at the 7:25 minute mark sparked the 15-2 run over a five minute stretch, erasing a six-point Eagle deficit and giving Georgia Southern a 64-57 lead with two and a half minutes left. Franks then canned a three-pointer with 1:08 left to clinch the victory.

"I thought we came out in the second half and guarded a lot harder, which is what we challenged them to do," Head Coach Kip Drown said. "We just couldn't make any baskets. We were just trying to keep our head above water until we could get going. No. 22 (Solrun Gisladottir) shot lights out. She changed the way we were guarding, from the way we were guarding ball screens to the way we were guarding post players. Everything changed because of the way she was making baskets. She got them going and gave them some confidence, and I told our kids at halftime the longer they stay in the game, the more dangerous they become."

Franks' 13 points - all in the second half - led the Eagles on the night, while Sierra Butler added 10 points, nine rebounds and four steals. The College of Coastal Georgia placed three players in double figures, led by Briana Gipson's 16 points and Solrun Gisladottir's 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range. Felts chipped in 11 points off the bench.

The Eagles finished the contest shooting 35.6 percent from the floor (21-of-59), while Coastal Georgia shot 47.1 percent (24-of-51). Georgia Southern took advantage of their free throw opportunities, hitting 20-of-32 from the line (62.5 percent), while Coastal Georgia hit just 8-of-11 tries from the line (72.7 percent).

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In order to expedite entry and provide a safe environment for all patrons and participants, Georgia Southern Athletics has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for all ticketed sporting events, effective Aug. 1, 2017. Fans can find the complete policy as well as an FAQ section at GSEagles.com/ClearBag.