ROME, Ga. — Gulf Coast State charged out the gate quickly and never slowed down. The No. 1-ranked Lady Commodores dominated all four periods to defeat Walters State 84-40 Friday night in the Georgia Highlands Classic at Georgia Highlands College.
GCS (6-0) took a 21-8 lead in the first period, opening with a three-pointer from Naomi Mbandu. Walters State (5-3) kept it tight for the first five minutes, trailing just 7-6 after two Jamya Rogers free throws, but managed just one more basket, a layup for Kiera Hill, in the final half of the frame.
Gulf Coast put on an 8-0 run to end the first. While the Lady Senators got more offense in the second period, scoring 12, the Lady Commodores put in 25, with nearly all of it coming around the basket. GCS hit just five threes in the contest, but was 48 percent from the floor and 77.8 percent from the free throw line.
Meanwhile, WSCC cooled back off in the third, only scoring nine points. The Lady Senators couldn't find the basket from beyond the arc, sinking just 3-of-20 three point attempts. They shot 30 percent from the floor for the game.
Walters State was led by Jamya Rogers, who scored 14 points. No other Lady Senator was in double figures. Rogers added five rebounds. Paris Mullins had eight points and six rebounds. Jalayah Manning knocked down five boards.
The Lady Commodores got 16 points apiece form Mbandu and Ndeye Ciss, who came off the bench. Ahlana Smith and Tatiana Jones scored 15 points each.
NEXT UP
It gets no easier for Walters State. They face off against No. 4 Northwest Florida State Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Georgia Highlands Classic in Rome, Ga.