THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Thomas (7-6, 2-1 SSAC) faced Georgia Gwinnett (7-6, 0-0 CAC) for their return trip in TU Gymnasium and earned the season sweep after a 56-55 win over the Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon.
LaTarius Montgomery opened up the scoring for the Night Hawks, making a layup off a
Destiny Hill dish. The Grizzlies fired back with a layup of their own to tie the game. The scoring went dormant from both teams for a while, until a free throw from Maddie Presha gave Georgia Gwinnett the lead.
However, Hill drew a foul and hit both free throws to take back the lead. A couple of minutes later,
Aaliyah Ringold knocked down a jumper to make it a three-point lead. But the Grizzlies battled back to within one, then another jumper from Ringold and a layup from
Kennedy Collins brought the lead to five. The Night Hawks eventually closed out the first with a three-point lead.
Georgia Gwinnett started the second with a three to tie the game at 11, but
Nandi Ramessar hit a jumper to break the tie. After a pair of free throws tied the game once again,
Ameari Logan hit a shot from outside the foul line for the lead, then Ramessar converted an and-one to put Thomas on a 7-2 run.
Unfortunately for the Night Hawks, the Grizzlies hit back-to-back free throws and a layup to regain the lead. Logan was able to tie it at the charity stripe, but a three and later a layup from Nylaa Fuller sent the advantage back to Georgia Gwinnett.
Zyi'Kiera King hit a free throw and made a layup to put Thomas only down by two going into the half.
King tied the game at the beginning of third with a layup, but Christen Collins drained a three to retake the lead. The two teams went shot for shot, until Hill made a layup off of a missed three from the Grizzlies.
Down 33-32 with 6:15 to go, King stole the ball and got it ahead to Logan who hit a layup to take the lead. Montgomery added on with a three and a layup to make it a four-point game.
With two minutes to go in the third, Fuller hit another three to cut the Thomas lead to one. But Ringold came right back and made a shot and drew the foul, after making the free throw, the Night Hawks held a two-possession lead going into the final quarter.
Thomas kept the Grizzlies in check for most of the early stages of the fourth, until a 10-0 run sparked by a three from Christal Collins gave Georgia Gwinnett a four-point lead with two minutes to go.
Needing a basket, Ringold came through with a clutch three to cut the lead to one. After a miss from the Grizzlies, Logan drove inside and drew the foul, sending her to the line with a chance to take the lead. Unfortunately, Logan missed both shots at the line.
Needing another stop, Thomas forced a missed three from Georgia Gwinnett to give the Night Hawks the ball with 36 seconds left.
Coming out of the timeout, Logan went into the paint and could not get the layup to drop, however, Hill grabbed the offensive board and got it back to Logan who drew the foul again.
With a second chance to take the lead, Logan drained both shots from the foul line to give the Night Hawks a one-point lead with 19 seconds to go.
Having no timeouts, the Grizzlies went fast. Getting the ball down to Jamya Griffin who made her way into the post, but Ringold blocked the layup attempt and Montgomery grabbed the rebound and got it to Hill who was fouled.
After knocking down both to make it a three-point game, a foul by Logan forced Georgia Gwinnett to shoot two from the line with 0.9 seconds left. The Grizzlies hit both and Thomas managed to get the ball in to run out the clock for the victory.
Hill, Ringold and Logan were the leading scorers for the Night Hawks, with Hill putting up 11 points, four rebounds and two assists. Ringold had 11 points, three boards, two assists and a block off the bench. Finally, Logan added 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Thomas had 27 points off the bench, with Ringold and Logan accounting for 22 of those points. They also outrebounded Georgia Gwinnett 42 to 36.
The Night Hawks will travel down to West Palm Beach to face Morningside University (Iowa) on Tuesday, December 16 at 12:00p.m. in the Keiser Classic.
