WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
* Georgia State committed 23 turnovers in falling to first-place UALR 56-39
* UALR led 33-31 at the half, but the nation's No. 4 defense held GSU to eight in the second half
* GSU shot 54.5 percent in the first half, 23.1 percent in the second
LITTLE ROCK, ARK – UALR took a 33-31 halftime lead and then held Georgia State to eight second-half points in claiming a 56-39 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball win Thursday at Stephens Center.
First-place UALR (23-4, 16-2), the No. 4 team in defense in the NCAA at 50.8 points per game, forced Georgia State (12-14, 7-10) into 15 second-half turnovers and limited them to 3 of 13 field goals.
GSU, which had shot 50 percent or better in three of its last five games, hit 54.5 percent in the first half with just eight turnovers in trading baskets, even leading by three at 20-17. But, UALR shot 48.3 percent in claiming that 33-31 first half lead.
The second-half was all UALR's defense, one which averages forcing 20 turnovers a game with man-to-man defense. Tonight, the Trojans finished with 23 turnovers and GSU finished at 42.9 percent for the game. Georgia State did maintain a 30-26 rebound advantage.
The game was still just a three-point game with 11:40 to go at 40-37. However, UALR clamped down and went on a 13-1 run over the next eight minutes to make it 53-38 at 3:15. Georgia State scored just one point over the final 10 minutes of the game.
Point guard Ashley Watson led Georgia State with 13 points on 5 of 7 field goals and a pair of assists as she filled in for suspended point guard Alisha Andrews, the league's best with 95 assists and 44 turnovers. Center Brittany Logan added 11 points on 4 of 4 field goals and 3 of 3 free throws, along with six rebounds.
Forward Kiera Clark led UALR with 16 points and eight rebounds. UALR shot just 6 of 22 from 3-point range, but 16 of 33 otherwise. The Trojans committed just seven turnovers for a +16 margin in the game. UALR converted 22 points off its turnovers.
