CONWAY, S.C. – The Georgia State women's basketball team (5-8, 1-1 SBC) captured their first win in conference play when they defeated Coastal Carolina (6-7, 0-2 SBC) by a final score of 68-63 on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers trailed by as many as eight points in the first half, but clawed their way back into the game thanks in large part to Crystal Henderson's 14 points and four steals, Cheyenne Holloman's 10 points and seven rebounds, and Eghosa Obasuyi's 10 points on 2-3 shooting from three-point land.

How It Happened

The Chanticleers jumped out to a 17-9 lead after the first quarter, but Georgia State quickly went to work on erasing the deficit. Obasuyi knocked down a midrange jumper on the opening possession of the second quarter, and Ari Dyson made a layup on the next to cut the Coastal lead to four. Obasuyi kept her hot shooting streak alive, knocking down a three-pointer and sinking a pair of free throws to give the Panthers their first lead, 18-17, with just over seven minutes to play in the half. Coastal stretched the lead back to as many as six, but Georgia State pulled within one, 28-27, at the halftime break. 

A Gabbie Grooms three-pointer in the opening seconds of the third swung the lead in the Panthers' favor, and more strong post work from Dyson extended it. The lead grew to as many as seven thanks to paint points form guards Henderson and Holloman, but the Chanticleers refused to go quietly. The hosts recaptured the lead multiple times in the third quarter, but a pair of free throws from Kaleigh Addie sent the Panthers to the fourth with a narrow 43-42 advantage.

In the fourth, Grooms and Obasuyi each knocked down their second three-pointer of the game as the Panthers looked to put the game on ice. Dyson's fifth made field goal on just her eighth attempt stretched the lead to nine, the largest of the game. Coastal Carolina remained pesky in the closing seconds, cutting the GSU lead to 64-63 with just 30 seconds left to play, but a pair of clean trips to the line for Holloman and Addie secured the team's first win in league play.

Game Notes

• The Panthers turned 26 Coastal turnovers into 28 points
• The game saw 11 lead changes and seven ties
• The Panthers enjoyed a 23-31 performance at the free throw line
• Four different players scored in double-digits for Georgia State

Up Next
The Panthers return to their home court when they play host to Division III LaGrange College at the GSU Convocation Center at 2 p.m. on December 28.