Valdosta, Ga. – December 3, 2005 – On thing Craig Roden’s teams always do well is guard teams. The 2005-06 version of his West Georgia Braves proved that fact Saturday afternoon against Saint Leo at The Complex in Valdosta, Ga., forcing 23 turnovers while committing just nine in a 59-44 win over the Lions.
The two teams came out of the gate tentatively, scoring a combined 10 points in the first six minutes of the contest. The Braves led 4-0 in the early going, but Saint Leo caught up at 6-6 with 14:17 left in the first half.
From that point on, it was all West Georgia, as the Braves built a 31-22 lead at the half. UWG point guard Natasha Liggins spurred on the Braevs’ run, scoring 13 points in the first half. In the period, she hit 3-of-6 from three-point range.
Right out of the gate in the second half, All-America candidate hit a pair of three-pointers that put West Georgia up 37-22 and the Braves cruised from there out. The Lions were able to cut the lead to single-digits twice, but were the outcome was never in doubt.
Ellis led West Georgia in the game with 20 points, followed by Liggins with 17. Doville Gulbinaite kept her team leading rebounding average up with eight rebounds in the contest. The senior has led the Braves in rebounding in five of the seven games this season.
West Georgia is now 5-2 on the year with a battle with Florida Gulf Coast coming up tomorrow in their final contests of the Ramada Limited Classic, hosted by Valdosta State.