Women’s Basketball tame the Golden Tigers with a road victory
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Jan. 11, 2023) - The Point University women's basketball team returned to action Wednesday evening in a road Appalachian Athletic Conference showdown against Brenau University and pulled out the win with a final score of 71-64.
Marta Gimenez put the Skyhawks on the scoreboard first with a quick layup, but the Golden Tigers quickly retaliated with a basket of their own to tie it at two. Mirial Cannon's hot evening started with her scoring two buckets for Point to put the Skyhawks ahead by four. The offensive game plan of the Skyhawks to start fast continued to show success as Ky'Leo Worriels made her post presence known with a layup. Brenau looked to slow the Skyhawks down as they scored their next two baskets, but Point countered with two layups to bring their lead to 12-7. With two minutes left, the Golden Tigers brought their deficit to two as Nyla Moore hit the three-pointer. The Skyhawks finished the first period with layups scored by Mataea Boyd and Sheyvonne Owens to bring their lead to six.
Point took their most significant lead with 10 as Marta Gimenez and Mataea Boyd gave the Skyhawks their first two buckets of the second quarter. Jasmin Jackson's layup for Brenau cut their deficit back to single digits, but that would not last long as Ananda Hughley responded with a three-pointer that brought their lead to 25-14. Marta Gimenez added to the lead for Point with a triple of her own, but their offense slowed as the Golden Tigers went on a 9-2 run to trail by two. Sheyvonne Owens halted the momentum from Brenau by making another layup to bring their lead back to four, but with a second remaining, the Golden Tigers scored the last basket of the half to trail 32-30.
Brenau started the third quarter with a three-pointer to take their first lead of the contest until the Skyhawks countered with a layup from Mirial Cannon and Mataea Boyd to put Point back ahead by three. As both teams moved through the quarter, the opponents started to trade baskets back and forth, bringing the score to 40-38 with the Skyhawks ahead. Mirial Cannon stopped another possible run from Brenau as she finished with a strong take in the lane, followed by a bucket from Mataea Boyd. Boyd and Cannon started to catch fire simultaneously as they again scored the next two layups for the Skyhawks to bring their lead nine points. Chinedu Nnadi added fuel to the fire as she scored five points for the Skyhawks with a layup and three-pointer to help Point end the quarter on a 13-5 run.
Brenau started the final period of play by bringing their deficit back to single digits as Kayla Stafford made the first layup and Katherine Fourie added a made three-pointer. Sheyvonne Owens halted the momentum from the Golden Tigers by continuing to dominate in the paint with a strong layup. Mataea Boyd added to the Skyhawks' lead by breezing through the contact for the strong take in the paint, bringing their lead to 59-50. Point continued to ride the hot hand of Sheyvonne Owens as she extended the Skyhawks' lead with another made layup. With under four minutes left, Brenau went on a 6-0 run to trail by five with hopes of sealing the comeback. Mirial Cannon converted the and-one, which forced Brenau to use their fouls for the rest of the game. Point converted their next five free throws to seal the game to put them back in the win column for their ninth win in AAC play.
In the box
Mirial Cannon led the Skyhawks with 17 Points, seven rebounds and one steal. Mataea Boyd added 16 Points, four rebounds and two steals on the evening. Sheyvonne Owens tallied 15 points, three rebounds and one steal off the bench.
Up next
Point will return to the court for a road AAC matchup against Montreat College on Saturday, January 14 at 2:00 P.M.