BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team traveled to Lynn for its Holiday Classic to face Bowie State on Saturday.

The Sailfish outscored the Bulldogs in each quarter. PBA made a statement with its defense, forcing 19 turnovers to help create buckets on the offensive end. The 'Fish forced themselves to the free throw line and converted on 16-of-18 attempts at the charity stripe. PBA pulled away down the stretch to defeat BSU 69-56.

Kash Ayuso led PBA with 23 points, including three 3-pointers. Anabel Ellison and Karyzma Pierre scored 11 points each. Ellison led the team in rebounds (nine), assists (five), and steals (four). Pierre added six rebounds, one steal, and one block to her stat line. Carleigh Andrews scored 10 points with three steals. Gabrielle Wener finished with five rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Ayuso wasted no time getting the Sailfish offense going and scored seven points in each of the first two quarters, including two 3-pointers. PBA shot over 50 percent from deep in the first half while limiting its turnovers. BSU turned it over 11 times leading to 11 points for the Sailfish who went into halftime leading 36-29. Andrews and Pierre scored seven points and Ellison dished out five assists in the half.

The duo of Ayuso and Ellison continued to attack in the third quarter. Ellison scored seven points, getting to the basket at will. Her old-fashioned three-point play gave PBA a 42-34 lead with 6:46 to play in the third quarter. The 'Fish held a 51-43 lead at the end of the third. Second-chance points allowed BSU to cut into the PBA lead in the fourth. Back-to-back second-chance layups made it a four-point game with 5:43 to play.

The Sailfish answered the Bulldog's run with 3-pointers from Darria Whitley and Ayuso followed by a pair of free throws by Ayuso after another Bulldog turnover to take a 12-point lead. Pierre and Ellison closed the game offensively for the Sailfish, holding on for the 69-56 win.

PBA ran the Bulldogs off the 3-point line, with BSU shooting 25 percent from deep. The 'Fish took care of the ball, finishing the game with nine turnovers. PBA scored 24 points off turnovers compared to eight for the Bulldogs. The 'Fish led for over 38 minutes of game time.

The Sailfish turn around for their last game of 2024 on Saturday against Shaw. Tip-off at Lynn is set for noon.