ATLANTA – Little Rock won its eighth straight Sun Belt Conference game with the same defensive formula, shutting down Georgia State 54-39 Thursday night in the Sports Arena.
In winning the previous seven, Little Rock was holding opponents to 45 points to lower its season average to 55 points per game. Tonight, the Trojans limited GSU, a team that averages 65 per game, to just 39 points.
Little Rock's defense shut GSU down to eight points in the first quarter and four points in the second in edging to a 23-12 halftime lead. GSU got just nine more in the third quarter and it was 36-21 after three.
For the game, Little Rock made as many baskets (24) as Georgia State had turnovers (24). Many of GSU's were unforced and errant passes. Little Rock got off 20 more shots than GSU (60-40) as GSU was wasting possessions with the turnovers.
“Little Rock plays physical, plays tough and make it hard for a team to runs its offense,” coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “We had way too many turnovers and that was a bad thing against a good defense.”
Georgia State (9-15, 4-11) got 13 points and seven rebounds from freshman Astaja Tyghter, with Tatianna Jackson and Haley Gerrin adding eight points each. GSU played 12 players with eight committing at least one turnover and 10 grabbing a rebound. The Panthers' leading scorer, Makeba Ponder, was held scoreless on 0-for-3, ending an 18-game streak with at least one 3-point basket.
Little Rock (13-11, 11-4) plays just six players. Guard Sharde' Collins led with 15 points, but on 7-of-18 shooting. Keanna Keys added 12 points plus 12 rebounds and Shanity James provided 10 more points.
Host GSU jumped out to a 6-2 lead at 4:56 in the quarter, but Little Rock went on an 8-2 run to finish the quarter and grab a 10-8 lead on a shot at the buzzer. With 7:20 in the second quarter and Little Rock up 13-10, the Panthers were in a turnover frenzy and were outscored 10-2 over those final 7:20.
When Little Rock opened the second half on an 8-2 run and grew the lead to 31-14, the Trojans had complete control. At the end of three quarters, GSU had 22 turnovers and 21 points.
Both teams shot 40 percent for the game, with Little Rock starting frigid on 4-of-18 (22%) in the first quarter and finishing with a roar on 8-of-14 in the fourth quarter (57%).
GSU plays host to first-place Arkansas State on Saturday at noon in the Sports Arena.
