ATLANTA - With four players scoring in double figures, Georgia State produced a 80-72 win over the University of Louisiana at Monroe Tuesday evening in the GSU Sports Arena.
The Sun Belt opener included 12 lead changes and seven ties. Georgia State's advantages were a 49-33 rebound lead with 22 offensive rebounds and hitting 82.8 percent of its free throws (24 of 29). ULM countered with 10 of 24 3-point baskets to keep the game within reach.
Senior six-foot-four center Brittany Logan had a fourth consecutive double-double game with 16 rebounds and 15 points. Freshman guard Makeba Ponder led with 20 points and four 3-point baskets. Senior guard Kayla Nolan produced a double-double with 11 rebounds and 10 points. Senior guard Ashley Watson added 11 points with 9 of 10 free throws.
Leading 39-36 at halftime, host GSU (6-4, 1-0) built a double-digit lead of 53-43 at 15:18 and were up by 12 points at 58-46 with 14:17 as it looked like the Panthers might pull away. But, ULM (4-6, 0-1) went on a 10-0 run with a pair of treys and it was back to 58-56 with 8:30.
GSU came back to make it 65-56 at 6:54 and were cruising at 67-60 with just 4:23. Once again, ULM surged back as Logan fouled out at 2:04 and it was a 71-70 game at 1:28 after ULM's 10th 3-pointer. Ashley Watson's two free throws at 1:01 made it 73-70 and a ULM turnover led to two more free throws by Alisha Andrews at 47.6 to up it to 75-70 as the Panthers headed for the win.
"Yes, it feels good to win this Sun Belt opener and this was a really tough and hard-fought game," coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said."We didn't expect ULM to shoot the 3's so well and that made it real tough with their excellent post player. We worked hard on both ends of the court and found a way to win as lots of folks made plenty of contributions.
"Brittany Logan was aggressive and a key tonight, while Makeba Ponder started off hot and plays with confidence to balance the offense. Kayla Nolan made some key plays and had a double-double effort. And, we made the free throws that you need to make to win."
The Panthers return to action Saturday at noon at the Sports Arena when they play host to UALR (8-2).
NOTEBOOK:
- GSU has won three of its last four games and won its conference opener for a second-straight season
- The Panthers are second in the Sun Belt in scoring (73 ppg) and have topped 70 in seven of the 10 game.
- The Panthers had the rebound advantage for the seventh time in 10 games this year and 19th time in the last 24 games.
- Logan had a fifth-straight double-figure rebound game and a fourth consecutive double-double to up her season averages to double-double status. Her 16 rebounds were her second with that total this year, one shy of her two games with 17 rebounds last year.
- Nolan played in her 100th consecutive game and had her 35th career double-figure scoring game.
- Ponder has scored 96 points in her last five games, with three games of 20 or more points in that span.
- Alisha Andrews returned after a four-game suspension and had four points, four steals and three assists.
- Ashley Watson hit 9 of 10 free throws to up her season average to .818 and her career average to .822.
- GSU's 82.8 percent (24 of 29) on free throws topped the earlier season mark of 82.1 (23 of 28 vs. Thomas).
