BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The Life University women's basketball team battled back from a double-digit deficit but came up short Saturday afternoon, falling 62-55 to Coastal Georgia at Coffin Gym.
The Running Eagles trailed 29-21 at halftime after scoring eight points in the opening quarter and 13 in the second. Life U found its rhythm offensively in the third quarter, scoring 18 points to cut into the Mariners' advantage and enter the final period trailing 44-39.
Aniyah Offutt led Life U with 17 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. Sa'mya Stevens added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Natalie Derla contributed eight points and six rebounds off the bench. Arianna Harper finished with seven points and six rebounds, and Vika Afungia grabbed seven boards.
Coastal Georgia established control early, opening the game with a 14-8 first-quarter advantage. Taylor Blackshear helped lead the Mariners' attack, scoring 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Peyton Shafer added 14 points and nine rebounds, while Alli Stone chipped in 12 points, including four three-pointers. Elina Briede also reached double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Life U began to find momentum in the second half, using a stronger offensive showing to make the contest more competitive. After trailing by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, the Running Eagles continued to chip away at the deficit. Stevens and Offutt provided key scoring contributions during the third, while Derla connected from beyond the arc to help Life U stay within striking distance.
The Running Eagles carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, continuing to pressure the Mariners. Life U cut the deficit to three points at 53-56 with under three minutes remaining, creating an opportunity to pull even closer. However, Coastal Georgia responded with timely baskets and free throws to maintain its lead down the stretch.
Life U continued to fight until the final minute, with Afungia converting a free throw to make it 55-59 with 1:28 remaining. The Mariners answered at the line in the closing moments to secure the seven-point victory.
Despite the loss, Life U held a 50-43 advantage on the boards, including 24 offensive rebounds, and recorded 14 second-chance points. However, the Running Eagles struggled to find consistency from the perimeter, finishing 2-of-22 from three-point range. Coastal Georgia shot 33.3% from beyond the arc and converted 14 of its 22 free-throw attempts.
The Running Eagles' second-half effort kept the game within reach, but Coastal Georgia's early lead and late-game execution proved decisive in the 62-55 result.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Rebounds: Life U - 50, Coastal Georgia - 43
- Points in the Paint: Life U - 28, Coastal Georgia - 20
- Second-Chance Points: Life U - 14, Coastal Georgia - 10
- Three-Point Shooting: Life U - (9.1%), Coastal Georgia - (33.3%)
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
UP NEXT:
- Life U is at home for its home opener against #11 ranked Georgetown College (Ky.) on Friday, October 30th at 6pm.
