CARROLLTON, Ga. – Behind a quartet of double-digit scorers including a pair of double-doubles, the UWG women's basketball team continued their perfect start to the season with a 77-73 victory over Auburn Montgomery in Gulf South Conference play.
 
Anna Gernatt and K'Nari Holliday led with 18 points, while Holliday and Jada Powell recorded double-doubles and Zuriyah Davis finished with 16 points. West Georgia (4-0, 1-0 GSC) led by as much as 17 in the game, but AUM (2-3, 0-1 GSC) fought back late in the game to make things interesting.
 
"There's no easy wins in this conference," said head coach Joanna Reitz following her team's fourth consecutive win, "We got away from some of the things we do well down the stretch, and we relaxed and they took advantage."
 
The win gave UWG their first 4-0 start since the 2014-15 season, and was the second straight 1-0 start to league play under Reitz.
 
After jumping in front at the 11-10 mark, West Georgia led the remainder of the game, building  13-point lead following the opening 20 minutes. The Wolves shot over 50 percent from the field in the first half, hitting six three-pointers in the process. Gernatt had four of those three-pointers to lead all scorers at the break with 12.
 
"If the other team goes zone, she's going to come in the game," Reitz said of Gernatt, who finished with a career-high 18. "She's a great shooter and very steady. She's put in the work and I'm really proud of her. You know, she's coming off of the year with the injury and she's worked so hard to get back to this point."
 
One of Gernatt's treys came at the buzzer and it extended UWG's halftime lead to 42-29. Zuriyah Davis had 10 first half points while Jada Powell added eight points to go with eight rebounds in the opening half.
 
West Georgia continued their hot play in the second half, going up by as much as 17 late in the third. That's when Auburn Montgomery began to chip away at their deficit, and although the Warhawks never would reclaim the lead, they would make things interesting down the stretch.
 
"They had 16 offensive rebounds in the second half and we then we made some defensive mistakes and they capitalized on them," added Reitz.
 
AUM got the deficit back into single digits at the 5:51 mark of the final frame as West Georgia led 68-59. The Warhawks would eventually get within six, but the Wolves would hold on for the GSC victory.
 
Powell and Holliday became the first UWG teammates to record double-doubles in the same game at home since 2020 as Holliday had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Powell finished with 10 points and 12 boards.
 
As a team, the Wolves pulled down 45 rebounds and had the advantage on the glass.
 
"We emphasize rebounding and we make it a big deal," said Reitz. "I'm really proud of our team and with Jada and K'Nari having double-doubles, that's really good production from our post."
 
The Wolves now look to Thursday for their first road game of the season as they travel to Memphis, Tennessee for a GSC game at Christian Brothers.
 
"We've been at home our first four games, so we're actually looking forward to being on the road, that's good time spent with the team," Reitz concluded. "Again, every conference opponent is so tough, you have to prepare and prepare to win."
 
Tip-time for Thursday's contest on the campus of CBU is set for 6 p.m. EST.