WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
* Georgia State defeated Kennesaw State 66-62 on the road Friday.
* The Panthers came from 16 points down to post the win.
* Makeba Ponder led GSU with 19 points and four 3-point baskets.
KENNESAW, GA – Georgia State opened the 2015-16 women's basketball season with a 66-62 win Friday at Kennesaw State. The visiting Panthers got down by 16 points at 31-15 in the second quarter, but came back strong and led most of the second half.
Sophomore Makeba Ponder scored 19 points to lead GSU, then made the deciding play with a steal with 9.5 seconds and two free throws. Freshman point guard Madison Newby added 10 points, while junior transfer forward produced 10 rebounds.
“With nine new players, I have noticed they really play to win and they showed that tonight,” coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “This group seems to look to find a way to get things done. Even when they get down like they did tonight, they have confidence in themselves to come back. We missed so many early shots that I think that affected our defense, but we calmed down and got going.”
After GSU got down 31-15 at 5:53, the Panthers did not allow the Owls a point the rest of the half and the 13-0 run made it 31-28 at halftime.
Down the stretch, GSU broke from the last tie at 54 with 5:52 on a hook in the paint from Kennesha Nichols. Freshman Kierra Henry made a free throw at 4:12 and then a drive at 3:20 to open a 59-54 lead. After a basket by KSU, Tatianna Jackson drained a 3-point basket to make it 62-56 with 2:57.
GSU danced on the tightrope by missing free throws all evening (13 of 25) and two big missed by Ponder at 25.1 seconds (64-62) gave KSU a chance to tie. But Ponder made the steal above the top of the key and was fouled. This time, she calmly sank two.
Doing the math from the 31-16 deficit, GSU outscored the Owls 50-31 the rest of the way, even with the poor free throw shooting. KSU started the game 6 of 9 from the field and then 9 of 14 with three 3-point baskets, but finished 12 of 36 from the field the rest of the way.
Georgia State held a 37-32 rebound advantage, thanks to 15 offensive rebounds. GSU forced 15 Kennesaw turnovers and made eight steals.
GSU goes back on the road to play at Tennessee Tech on Thursday.
