Brunswick, GA - The top ranked Johnson & Wales Charlotte women's basketball team kicked off the 2024 portion of their schedule with a 60-54 win over the College of Coastal Georgia on Thursday night.

The game's first fifteen minutes saw the teams jockey the lead back and forth as neither team led by more than 3. JWU then reeled off a 10-0 run to close the half, turning a one point deficit into a nine point lead. Gabby Tapley's 8 points off the bench in the first half helped key the Wildcat spurt.

Jamyah Blakeney opened the third period by hitting a three that gave JWU its first double-digit lead of the game. The Wildcats would lead by as many as fifteen in the stanza, and took a 45-36 lead into the fourth quarter. The Mariners cut their deficit to five at 52-47 with 3:15 left, only to see JWU answer with seven consecutive points that effectively put the game to rest.

Tapley had a game high 14 points to go along with 5 rebounds. Jordan Durant added 12 points and 5 boards, while McKenzie Taylor scored 10 points. 

The Wildcats return home on Tuesday, January 9th when they host Methodist at 6pm.