What You Need To Know:
- Georgia State shot 29.7 percent (19 of 64) in falling to the second-place team, Arkansas State, in a game that was close at 48-41 with seven minutes to play. GSU held a 40-37 rebound advantage with 17 offensive rebounds.
- Arkansas State's Preseason Player of the Year scored 22 points, had 7 rebounds and four assists in her 12th game with 20 or more this year.
- The Panthers played without their two leading scorers today (Brittany Logan and Makeba Ponder) and hope to be back at full strength when they travel to face Georgia Southern on Thursday
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ATLANTA – What chances Georgia State might have had of upsetting Arkansas State today were done in by poor shooting (29.7%) as the Red Wolves pulled away for a 61-47 Sun Belt Conference women's win.
Georgia State (8-12, 3-8) was hanging with preseason favorite Arkansas State (15-7, 10-2) in a 48-41 game with seven minutes to play. But, the missed shots kept mounting up as ASU pulled away with an 8-0 spurt sparked by preseason player of the year Aundrea Gamble.
The Panthers were already hamstrung with their two leading scorers out today (center Brittany Logan and guard Makeba Ponder). No GSU player scored in double figures, yet 11 players scored and a 12th had three rebounds. Kennesha Nichols had eight points in 21 minutes and Ashlee Cole added seven points in 19 minutes off the bench. Point guard Alisha Andrews added six points, five assists and a couple steals.
Gamble, Arkansas State's leader, poured in 22 points on 9 of 14 field goals, with seven rebounds and four assists in playing all 40 minutes. When the game got close in the second half, Gamble stepped up with a basket, an assist and a couple free throws to spur their finish. Arkansas State shot 46 percent for the game, making 23 of 50 shots.
Georgia State shot 24.2 percent in the first half (8 of 33) in falling behind 29-20 at halftime, then finished the game at 29.7 percent on 19 of 64 attempts. Scrappy GSU held a 40-37 rebound advantage, thanks largely to 17 offensive rebounds. The Panthers also made eight steals and blocked five shots.
“When we shoot 29 percent with a lot of open looks, then that is on us,” coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “We missed a lot of easy shots. We ran what we wanted on offense, we just missed the shots. Our defense gave us a little chance and we held them below their scoring average. Being without our two leading scorers might have hurt us a little today, but that is our problem, too. Gamble is a great player. She went all 40 minutes and does everything in the game, from passing, rebounding, getting steals and, of course, scoring.”
Georgia State's mid-season slump continues with a seventh loss in the last eight games. Arkansas State's rise has seen the Red Wolves win 10 of the last 12 games. For Gamble, this was a 12th game with 20 or more points this season.
The Panthers will look to end that streak at 10th place Georgia Southern on Thursday as they hope to be back at full strength.
