VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team kicked off its season tonight in Georgia at the Gulf South Conference and Sunshine State Conference Crossover. The Sailfish faced off against host school Valdosta State and fell 72-40 to fall to 0-1 on the season.

The 'Fish got off to a slow start offensively, starting 1-for-14 from the field and 0-of-8 from three. Center Kamryn Estell was the bright spot offensively as she scored all four points in the opening quarter. Valdosta scored 22 points in the first as they shot 7-of-14 from the floor to take command of the game early. 

The Sailfish fought back and won the second quarter, outscoring the Blazers 10-9. The Sailfish were 3-of-12 from the field in the second quarter and held Valdosta State to 4-of-16 from the floor. Estell led the Sailfish offensively scoring nine of the team's 14 points in the opening half as PBA trailed 31-14.

The Sailfish saw the return of All-SSC players Shekinah Guthrie and Maria Benitez-Zayas in the second half. Guthrie is the reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Year and she added eight points in the second half on 3-of-10 shooting. Returning leading scorer Benitez-Zayas scored four points in the second half on three shots. PBA struggled on the night from behind the arc as they finished 2-of-22 from three in the game and were just 12-of-25 from the free-throw line. The PBA defense was solid, holding the Blazers to 40 percent from the field and forcing 14 turnovers, but they sent Valdosta State to the line 34 times. VSU had three players score in double figures, led by Kwajelin Farrar who scored 20 points in 20 minutes of play. 

The Sailfish have a quick turn around and will look to bounce back as they play West Florida tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm. The Argos dropped their first game of the season against Benedict 80-74.