Lady Hurricanes storm their way to Sweet 16

Published 10:03 pm Sunday, March 12, 2023

: The 26-6 Georgia Southwestern State University women’s basketball team stormed their way to the national quarterfinals (Elite 8) of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament with victories over USC Aiken (91-66) and Wingate University (81-64) and are one win away from advancing to the NCAA Division II Women’s Final Four. Photo by GSW Athletics

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

From Staff Reports

SALSBURY, NC – The Georgia Southwestern State University women’s basketball team (GSW) stormed its way into the Sweet 16 over the weekend with wins over fellow Peach Belt Conference foe USC Aiken by the score of 92-66 in the first round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament Southeast Regional on Friday at the Storm Dome. Then they followed that up with an 81-64 victory over Wingate University (NC) at Catawba College in Salsbury, NC on Saturday, March 11.

As a result of those two victories, GSW (26-6) is now two wins away from advancing to the NCAA Division II Wonen’s Final Four in Dallas, TX.

In their first game against the Lady Pacers of USC Aiken, the Lady Hurricanes were led in scoring by Ava Jones, who led the way with 19 points, five rebounds and shot 47 percent from the field. Jones was one of five GSW players to score in double figures. Kayla Langley scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds. Destiny Garrett and Jacquelyn Levay each had 13 points and Jolicia Williams added 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and had five steals in the winning cause.

GSW senior guard Ava Jones led the Lady Hurricanes in scoring in both of their NCAA Tournament victories. Jones scored 19 points in the win over USC Aiken and posted a season-high 31 points in the Lady Hurricanes’ 81-64 victory over Wingate University.
Photo by GSW Athletics

In GSW’s second tournament victory over Wingate University on Saturday, Jones led the way again with a season-high 31 points and added four rebounds and four assists. Jones was one of three Lady Hurricane players to score in double figures. Levay scored 17 points, while grabbing five rebounds and tallying four steals. Levay shot 60 percent from the field and 75 percent on her three-point shots. Kayla Langley scored 10 points, had two rebounds and had one shot block, while shooting 60 percent from the field.

The Lady Hurricanes (26-6) will face Catawba College in Salsbury, NC on Monday, March 13, at 7 p.m. for the NCAA Southeast Region Championship. Should GSW win that game, the Lady Hurricanes will be in the “Elite 8” and will be one more win away from advancing to the NCAA Division II Women’s’ Final Four in Dallas, TX.