FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team defeated the Georgian Court Lions by a score of 80-50 to kick off the NSU Thanksgiving Classic. Kash Ayuso scored 36 points, the third highest scoring performance in PBA's DII era. 

The Sailfish dominated from start to finish in this one. They led for 39:01 and never trailed the Lions. Anabel Ellison and Kash Ayuso led the way in the first quarter with six and five points respectively to give the Sailfish a 17-12 lead after the first ten minutes. Katelynn Hagy, making her season debut, had four points in the first quarter as well.  

Grace Wener came on strong in the second quarter. With nine points on 2-5 shooting and 4-4 from the free throw line, the Sailfish took a 42-25 lead into the halftime break.  

It was the Kash Ayuso show in the second half.  

Ayuso, a graduate senior, scored 23 of her 36 points in the second half. It was an efficient half for her as well shooting 9-12 from the field and 5-7 from the line for those 23 points. Behind the outburst from Ayuso, the Sailfish outscored the Lions 42-25 in the second half. Ayuso is one point away from tying the PBA all-time career scoring record.

PBA won the battle on the glass with a total of 37 rebounds to 27 for the Lions. PBA also outscored Georgian Court in second chance points 14-2.  

With a quick turnaround, the Sailfish are back in action Saturday at Noon against the Shaw Bears to conclude the NSU Thanksgiving Classic. The last matchup between these two resulted in a 76-46 win for the Sailfish at the Fighting Knight Christmas Classic in December of 2023.