ATLANTA-- After completing a 66-60 upset over Georgia, the Lady Panthers return home to host Western Carolina on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the GSU Convocation Center. 
 

SERIES VS. WCU: Georgia State and Western Carolina are meeting for the 12th time in program history. The Panthers are 7-4 against Western Carolina after defeating the Catamounts 90-57 on the road on Nov. 28, 2023. 

Overall: 7-4

At home: 4-1

On the road: 3-3

Neutral: 0-0

STATE IN THE SUN BELT: 

> Led by Crystal Henderson, who leads the conference and ranks 23rd nationally,  the Panthers rank second in the conference and rank top 50 in the nation in three-pointers per game (9.0). 

> Defensively, Georgia State ranks third in the Sun Belt in blocks (5.0 pg). They also rank fourth in the conference for turnovers forced per game with 21.0. 

> Led by Mikyla Tolivert, who leads the conference and nation with a 91.7 free throw percentage, the Panthers' overall free throw percentage leads the conference in the Sun Belt and 24th in the NCAA.  

> The Panthers also rank top 10 in the Sun Belt for steals pg (6th/ 10.8), three-point percentage (6th/ 31.0) and assist/turnover ratio (7th/0.83)

> The Panthers finished the 2023-24 season ranking third in the Sun Belt in blocks per game (3.2) and bench points (23.7), which finished 38 in the nation. The Panthers also finished fourth in the conference in assists per game (13.6) and steals (9.6). 
 

CRYSTAL CLEAR:  Sophomore leader Crystal Henderson, named to the 2024 preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, is the Panthers' leading scorer at 14.3 ppg, 2.89 rpg, 5.3 apg and 16 steals. 

> Henderson is first in the Sun Belt and seventh in the nation for total steals (16). She also leads the conference and ranks 23rd nationally for three-point percentage with 56.3 pct. 

> The sophomore guard also ranks top 10 in the conference for assists (4th/ 16), total three-pointers (4th/9) and assist/turnover ratio (8th/ 1.45).  

> The sophomore leader was the key factor in the Panthers win over Georgia (Nov. 14). Henderson put up big numbers against the Dawgs, finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. She went 5-7 at the three-point line, contributing to 41.6 percent of the Panthers threes in the contest. She also had a perfect night at the free-throw line and contributed 55.5 percent of the Panthers assists, including an assist for three to solidify the game. 

> Henderson started the season strong with a 20-point game in the season opener at Sun Belt-MAC Challenge foe Akron (Nov. 4). She also notched a team-high three steals, and finished the game with the third-most rebounds (8). 

 > Crystal Henderson was named 2023-24 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year after leading all Sun Belt freshmen in scoring, steals and assists, and finishing top five in assists among all freshmen in the NCAA during the 2023-24 season. Henderson's honors marked the third Freshman of the Year honors in Georgia State Women's Basketball history, and the first since the 2016-17 season.

> The freshman point guard, who saw the most time on the court least season, was Panthers' second-leading scorer at 11.4 ppg. She led the team in assists (4.5 pg), which finished third overall in the Sun Belt. Henderson's assist-turnover ratio (+1.58) finished fourth in the conference. 

> Henderson was also a defensive asset, finishing second on the team with 55 steals, placing her eighth in the conference.

> The freshman leader recorded 15 double-digit games, including three 20+ games at Clemson (Dec. 16), Troy (Dec. 31) and Georgia Southern (Jan. 24) during the 2023-24 season. She notched a career-high 24 points and six free throws in the Panthers' win at Troy (Dec. 31).

BIG TWO: Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Guard Miklya Tolivert is the fourth-leading scorer on the Panthers' squad with 9.3 ppg.  

> Tolivert is 10 points away from hitting 1,000 career points. 

> The veteran guard is second on the Panthers leaderboard with 12.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 assists per-game and seven srteals. 

> The Melbourne, Fla., native leads the conference in free-throw percentage (91.7). 

> Veteran Mikyla Tolivert was named to the 2024-25 preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after leading the Georgia State women's basketball team through the 2023-24 season. 

> Tolivert led GSU in scoring (14.1 ppg), and was second on the team in 3-point percentage (.333) and free throws (.802), which finished sixth  overall in the Sun Belt during the 2023-24 season. 

.> The Melbourne, Fla. native also finished sixth overall in the Sun Belt in assist-turnover ratio (+1.46) and steals (1.83 pg), and was top 10 in the conference for assists per game (3.4). 

> Highlighting her previous season, Tolivert notched a double-double with a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds, and sunk a career-high five 3-pointers in the Panthers' conference opener at Troy (Dec. 31). She recorded her second double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against James Madison (Jan. 31).  

SHARP SHOOTERS: 

> Senior Mya Williams continues to lead the Panthers' squad in three-pointers through another year, averaging 36.8 percent this season, which ranks sixth in the conference. 

> The senior guard is third on the Panthers' leaderboard with 12.0 ppg, four rebounds and two assists. 

> Williams finished the 2023-24 season shooting 33.6 percent from the 3-point line to finish the season with 56 total. 

> After transferring to Georgia State from Hutchinson C.C. in 2023, Mya Williams made a name for herself early in the 2023-24 season, finishing third on the Panthers' leader board (10.5 ppg).Last season, Williams led the Panthers in free throw percentage (.850) and 3-pointers (56). 

>In her first season at Georgia State, Xavier transfer Kaleigh Addie finished third on the Panthers' squad in 3-pointers (31.8), fifth in scoring (7.2 ppg) during the 2023-24 season.   

THE BIGS: The Panthers' roster consists of four promising forwards for the 2024 season, including graduate transfers Eden Johnson and Mahogany Matthews, as well as returners Patience Williams and Aaliyah Hunt. 

> Graduate transfer Mahogany Matthews leads the team, is second in the Sun Belt and is 23rd in the nation, in blocks with 10. . 

> Matthews joins the Panthers for the 2024-25 season after spending the last five seasons at Marshall. In her senior year, Matthews helped the Thundering Herd to a conference championship title. 

> The veteran forward tallied a team-high 44 blocks while averaging 8.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season. 

> Graduate transfer Eden Johnson is tied as the Panthers' leading rebounder, averaging 7.0 rpg.

> The veteran forward has 22 points and five assists on the season. 

> Johnson joins the Panthers for the 2024-25 season after spending the last fours seasons at Georgia Southern. 

> Last season, Johnson averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.13 blocks per game. She finished the season ranking second in the Sun Belt Conference in blocked shots per game and fourth in total blocks (34). 

> In her second year at Georgia State, Patience Williams is tied for most rebounds on the team with 28.

> Williams put up a team-high 12 rebounds at the Panthers road trip to Georgia Tech (Nov. 9). 

TRACKING THE RECORD: 

> Tolivert hit the record book in numerous occasions during the 2023-24 season, ranking third overall in program history for career free-throw percentage (80.7). She entered the single-game records five times last season, twice for single-game points, twice for single game free-throws made and once for single-game assists.

> Transfer Mya Williams totaled 56 three-pointers last season to take the sixth overall spot in program history for single-season three pointers.

Following the matchup, The Panthers host the GSU Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26-28, hosting Furman, Campbell and Purdue Ft. Wayne.