Lakewood, N.J.- Hosting its first contest in the Wellness Center since November 25, the Georgian Court University women's basketball team returned home Sunday afternoon with an NCAA Division II non-conference match-up vs.visiting Southern Connecticut State University from the Northeast-10.

The Owls soared to the 62-40 victory, improving to 7-4 in the process. The Lions close out the 2014 calendar with an 0-11 mark.

In a tightly contested first half, GCU netted the initial four points of the game, courtesy of baskets by Tahira Matthews (Sr.-Bloomfield, N.J.) and Anna Ozolina (Jr.-Riga, Latvia). SCSU responded with a mighty 16-1 run to take a comfortable 16-5 lead with 13:11 remaining. A Kelly Jamison (Fr.-Jackson, N.J.) jumper at the 5:24 mark concluded a 15-6 GCU spurt that brought the Lions within two points, 22-20.

Sydni Lester's (Sr.-Teaneck, N.J.) jumper with 57 ticks remaining before intermission ended a SCSU run of 10-2 to provide the Owls with a 32-22 advantage. 

Entering the second stanza ahead by eight (33-25), Southern Connecticut State coasted through the half carrying a double-digit lead for much of the period. The final score served as the high-water mark (22 points) for the Owls' offense. 

After shooting 37.9% from the floor in the first half (11-for-29), the Georgian Court offense appeared to have submitted a palinode of sorts in the second frame with a 12.9% shooting effort (4-for-31), resulting in just 15 points.

SCSU's Jackie Beathea (Jr.-Annandale, Va.) paced the visiting offense with a double-double consisting of 18 points and 13 boards. Danielle Powell (Jr.-Middletown. N.Y.) snared a game-best 14 rebounds.

Matthews registered her team-leading fourth double-double with 12 points and 12 boards. Morgan Peacock (So.-Edison, N.J.) added nine rebounds and seven points in 33 points off the GCU bench.

The Lions take a brief Christmas hiatus and return to action on Saturday, January 3 with a 1:00 p.m. CACC home game vs. Concordia College.