James returns to lead Georgia Southern
- Updated: November 23, 2021
Georgia Southern's Simone James (left) during a time out on Monday. / Dave Dickens
2021 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 100, SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN 60
EastCountySports.com staff report
SAN DIEGO – Former Christian High great Simone James returned to San Diego over the weekend with the Georgia Southern Eagles.
James, a sophomore averaging just over seven points per game, tied a career-high with 18 points for the Eagles, getting a chance to shine for GSU in an exhibition game for the Hawks at Kroc Center on Monday.
The game was a regular-season contest for Georgia Southern (4-1), which has already defeated Auburn this season.
On Saturday, James scored two points in 12 minutes but the Eagles lost their first game of the season, 65-57, against San Diego State.
Georgia Southern, with sophomore Simone James (left) during a time out. / Dave Dickens
Likely to be a showcase game for James, who is the team’s fifth-leading scorer despite coming off the bench in four of five regular-season games this season, the former Patriot star was able to take advantage of her leading role in the game.
San Diego Christian led 10-8 with 2:14 left in the first quarter, but the Eagles went on a 19-0 run over the next 5:30 to build a 27-10 lead.
Georgia Southern led at halftime, 51-25.
James’ 18 points tied her career-high, set last season against Troy on January 15. She hit 7-of-11 shots from the floor and made all four of her free throws, adding three rebounds.
The Eagles forced 27 turnovers by the Hawks and scored 36 points off of those turnovers.
The Hawks’ Isabel Feller had a team-high 12 points.
San Diego Christian’s Mamaeia Makoni has eight points, while teammates Madison Beckham (7-points), and Laura Smith both scored seven points respectively.
“I am very proud of my young team, competing hard against a solid mid-major Division 1 team,” Hawks head coach Shawn Chaffin said. “We played two quarters essentially even with them while playing all 16 players even minutes. Some of our players had their best games of the season tonight.”
The Hawks host the 17th-ranked Northwestern College (Iowa) at the Salvation Army Kroc Center on Friday, November 26 at 3 p.m.
