Skyhawks fall in 2022 opener to No. 20 Bryan

WEST POINT, Ga. (Jan. 4, 2022) – The Point University women's basketball team kicked off the 2022 portion of its season Tuesday evening in an Appalachian Athletic Conference matchup with No. 20 Bryan. The Skyhawks led by three entering the second quarter, but the Lions combined for 52 points in the second and third quarters to defeat Point 83-58.

Point opened the contest with a 7-0 lead and extended its lead out 12-4 off a made 3-pointer from Iyanna McMillan. Bryan would answer with a 10-2 run to tie the game 14-14 before Nicole Izuagie closed the first quarter with her second 3-pointer of the day. The Lions open the second quarter with an 11-2 run to take their first lead of the night, 25-19. Back-to-back layups from Hannah Williams would bring the score back within two, but the Lions would go on to score 10 of the following 11 points to extend its lead out to double digits. A 3-pointer from Marta Gimenez in the final seconds of the first half would send the Skyhawks trailing by 10 entering the second half (43-33).

Alexis Tate would begin to cut into Bryan's lead in the third quarter with back-to-back layups to open the half. Bryan would answer by extending its lead to double figures following a layup from Gracee Dishman and a triple from Karli Combs. The Lions would hold its double-figure lead for the remainder of the contest.  

Gimenez and Izuagie led Point in the scoring column with 15 points each. McMillan followed with nine points and Gimenez Izuagie and Jasmine Griggs led the team with five rebounds apiece. The Skyhawks were 22-for-71 from the field and 7-for-38 from perimeter shooting, with Izuagie connecting for four 3-pointers. From the charity stripe, Point was 7-for-10.

With Tuesday's loss, Point falls to 10-2 (6-2 AAC) and the Lions advance to 14-0 (9-0 AAC). The Skyhawks will return to action inside West Point Park Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 6, as they host Columbia (SC) in an AAC matchup at 5:30 p.m.