STATESBORO - Georgia Southern women's basketball broke the single-game points record on Saturday afternoon, and needed every one of them in collecting a 121-105 victory over visiting Gardner-Webb University at Hanner Fieldhouse.
The Eagles improved to 7-2 on the campaign with the win over the Runnin' Bulldogs, who fell to 2-7 on the season. The 121 points eclipses the previous record of 119, set against Eckerd College on December 3, 1982 in a 119-49 win over the Tritons. The Eagles scored 100 points at San Diego Christian earlier this season, making it the first time Georgia Southern has had two 100+ games in the same season since 1991-92.
The 121 points are also the second-most scored by an NCAA Division I team against another DI opponent this season - only Texas has scored more, putting up 131 against New Orleans on November 9.
Georgia Southern opened the game on an 8-0 run, and led 35-24 after the first period as both teams shot better than 55% from the field. The Eagles stretched that lead to 12, 58-46, at halftime, and led by 25 points, 102-77, with 8:13 left to go in the fourth quarter.
Gardner-Webb did not go away, however, embarking on a 17-5 run over the next three minutes to close the gap to nine, 106-97, with 4:44 left. Terren Ward answered with a three-pointer to push the lead back to double digits and the Eagles scored the final six points of the game, getting the record-breaking basket on a Mya Burns three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining.
Five Eagles reached double figures in the contest, led by Mya Burns' career-high 24 points. Eden Johnson notched 19 points, while Simone James tied a career-high with 18 points. Terren Ward also collected 18 points and Taya Gibson added 10. Gardner-Webb was led by the duo of Jhessyka Williams and Lauren Bevis, who scored 38 and 33 points, respectively.
Eagle of the Game
Burns hit 9-of-18 field goals, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, en route to her career-high 24 points. The 24 points eclipses the 20 she scored against FIU on November 17. Burns hit 3-of-4 free throws and added four rebounds.
Stats of the Game
The Eagles tied a school record by hitting 14 three-pointers, the third time in program history that Georgia Southern has made 14 threes. The team shot 56% from beyond the arc (14-of-25), which is the seventh-best single-season three-point shooting performance ever.
Quotables • HEAR FULL POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM SIMONE JAMES AND COACH HOWARD
Sophomore Simone James on the record-breaking victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs
"It was really fun, i know in previous games, I haven't been my usual self. But this game gave me my confidence back. It's really nice [to set the record], but this whole season we've been making history. So it's just another thing to add on.
Head Coach Anita Howard on the fourth-quarter comeback by Gardner-Webb
"We always let up a little bit too soon. The one thing we said about Gardner-Webb is that they were not going to stop competing. We saw that. Although we're up, people are still going to give you their best and we have to be prepared for that.
On placing five Eagles in double figures in the contest
"It's good to see. That's team basketball. The biggest thing I love to see is more assists than turnovers. That's always good when you're able to share the basketball. That's what makes great team basketball."
Next Up
The Eagles return to action on Monday, hosting Carver College in an 11 a.m. tipoff at Hanner Fieldhouse. It will be Kids Field Trip Day, where an expected 2,500 grade school and middle school students are expected to attend.
