Georgia Southern women's basketball opened up the contest on a 17-0 run to collect its seventh straight win with a 74-48 victory over Hampton in the Coastal Empire Eagle Classic at Enmarket Arena in Savannah.
The seven-game win streak for the Eagles (9-2) is the longest for Georgia Southern women's basketball since the 2000-01 season. Hampton fell to 0-9 on the season with the loss.
The 17-0 run covered the first six minutes and 39 seconds of the contest as all five Eagle starters had at least two points during the run. Hampton finally got on the board with a layup at the 3:21 mark and the Eagles held a 23-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Georgia Southern stretched that lead to 20 points, 40-20, at halftime and the Pirates would get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Terren Ward's 24 points led all scorers on the day, as she also added 10 rebounds for her seventh straight double-double. She is the first Eagle to notch seven straight double-doubles since GS Hall of Famer Phylette Blake had seven straight during the 1988-89 season. Torrion Starks added 14 points and Simone James chipped in 10.
Hampton was led by Cheyenne Talbot's 13 points. Camryn Hill added 11 points and Tyra Kennedy notched 10.
Eagle of the Game
Torrion Starks made her second straight start at point guard for the Eagles and delivered a season-high six assists, while also going 5-for-8 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free throw line for 14 points. She added three rebounds and a pair of steals in the contest.
Stat of the Game
The Eagles defeated the Pirates despite going 0-for-12 from three-point range. It was the first time Georgia Southern had failed to make a three-pointer in a contest since November 27, 2021, when the Eagles went 0-for-14 vs. Indiana State.
Quotables
Head Coach Anita Howard on the 17-0 start to the game
"I thought we came out and looked dominant, and that's what we are looking to do. Now we've just got to be able to sustain it. It's about not being complacent, not worrying about the score and keeping our foot on the gas. Really pleased that we started so well outside of Hanner in a new environment."
On keeping the momentum of the seven-game winning streak alive
"I try to make them feel like we haven't done anything yet. The goal is that we want to cut down nets at the end of the year. So we talk about how can we be better, whether we win or lose. What are we learning in those wins or those losses. I don't want to let them get too high right now, because it's early."
Next Up
The Eagles will play their final non-conference game on Friday, visiting Longwood for a 1 p.m. contest against the Lancers in Farmville, Va.
