By Staff Reports

 

LUBBOCK, TX – The 23rd seeded South Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball Team (25-5) defeated the 10th seeded Casper Junior College 77-65 in the opening round of the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament on Monday, March 19.

Alyssa Nieves led the way with 21 points and she did it coming off the bench. She also had a total of five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Nieves went 5 for 10 from beyond the arch and was perfect at the foul line, making all six of her free throw attempts.

Esther Adenike was also in double-figures, scoring 15 points on 5-17 shooting. She also grabbed a total of 11 rebounds, recording a double-double. Adenike also came up big at the free throw line, making 5-6 foul shots.

“I’m so proud of the team,” SGT Head Coach James Frey said. “I kept telling them that we were the best 23rd seeded team ever in the national tournament and that we had the opportunity to come out here and do some things that no other 23rd seed seeded team had ever done.”

The Lady Jets trailed 34-24 at halftime, but overcame that deficit to come up with the 77-65 overtime win. Houlfat Mahouchiza scored a basket and was fouled during the final seconds of regulation. She made the three-point play, tying the game at 60-60 and sending it into overtime.

Cedeja James and Bigue Sarr were also in double figures for the Lady Jets. James scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds, recorded three assists and one steal in the ball game. James also went 5-6 from the foul line. Sarr scored 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting. She had six rebounds and one assist in the ball game. Sarr also took advantage of her opportunities at the foul line, going 3 for 3. Houlfat Mahouchiza scored nine points for the Lady Jets. She had five rebounds and two assists.

As a team, the Lady Jets shot 37.9% from the field, they made 7-19 shots from three-point land (36.8%), and made 20-25 free throws (80%).

Casper finishes their season at 31-3. They were led in scoring and rebounding by Lucie Hoskova with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Paula Orenes Sanchez was also in double-figures for Casper, scoring 10 points.