What you need to know:
* GSU won for the third time in four games to move into a tie for seventh-place in the Sun Belt Conference. Eight of the 11 members earn spots.
* Gaby Moss scored a career-best 18 points to lead the three guards in double figures (Moss 18, Andrews 14, Ponder 12).
* GSU plays host to one of those teams tied for seventh (App State) on Saturday at noon in the Play4Kay game at the GSU Sports Arena.
ATLANTA – Sparked by a trio of guards in double figures and a career-high game from Gaby Moss, Georgia State rolled to a 69-54 women's basketball win over South Alabama Thursday evening.
Georgia State won for the third time in four games to improve to 11-13 and 6-9 in the Sun Belt. The Panthers now sit in a tie for seventh place with Appalachian State and UL Monroe, a pair of teams GSU has beaten once this season and faces again down the stretch run.
Moss, a junior, had not scored in double figures all season until scoring 16 points last Saturday for a third career-game with 16 points. Tonight, she hit 8 of 12 shots for a new high of 18 points after hitting 12 in the first half. Senior point guard Andrews continued her solid all-around play, scoring 14 points, making five assists, grabbing six rebounds and making a pair of steals. Freshman guard Makeba Ponder added 12 points off the bench, including a perfect 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. Their last names of Moss, Andrews and Ponder spell MAP and provide direction for the team's final stretch run.
GSU held an important 38-26 rebound advantage, including 13 offensive boards, thanks to seven rebounds each from forwards Haley Gerrin and Kennesha Nichols.
South Alabama (4-21, 1-15) was led by 26 points from Breanna Hall on 9 of 132 shooting with 3 of 7 outside the 3-point arc. Chyna Ellis added 15 points and eight rebounds. Marquita Daniels, the Atlanta native who scored an arena record 37 points against GSU in Mobile, Ala., had just four points tonight on 2 of 7 shooting.
“You don't really practice too hard late in season, so we've been just getting more shots up and that has helped us over the last four games,” coach Baldwin-Tener noted of the 45 percent game. “The defense was effective for the most part this evening and that plays a big part in most wins, too. Alisha Andrews does a lot of things for us and has settled in running the team and doing what is needed. Gaby has always been a good shooter and her points will come as she looks for them. She adds to our balanced scoring line-up. Makeba Ponder has a lot of confidence and wants the ball. Teams are paying close attention to her now that she is our leading scorer. A lot of players are giving us contributions and that is what it takes to win, especially in the February drive to tournaments.”
In 9 of GSU's 11 wins this year, they have held the opponent to 40% shooting or less. The only two times the Panthers won when allowing 40% or more was at South Alabama (47%) and at home against Texas State (41%).
Host Georgia State got off to a 7-2 start in five minutes and grew that to 11 points at 21-10 at 8:56 on the clock. GSU led by 15 and 29-14 before South Alabama closed to 34-23 at halftime.
In the second half, Georgia State pulled up by 15 points at 13:30 (45-30) and led three times by 16 points, the last at 56-40 with 7:17 to play. The Panthers led 60-45 with 5:44 when South Alabama made a late charge that included nine straight points and back-to-back trey from Hall. A trey from Ponder at the 2:00 mark pushed that back to nine and GSU converted free throws down the stretch to increase the final margin back to 15.
The Panthers play host to Appalachian State in a key seeding game on Saturday at noon in the Play4Kay cancer awareness game in the GSU Sports Arena.
