The Sports Inquirer

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

In another shootout between the two teams that hold the Sun Belt women’s basketball record for most points in a game, Troy outlasted Georgia 96-87 Saturday in a high noon shootout in the GSU Sports Arena.

The see-saw game included 17 lead change and 10 ties before host Georgia State cooled off at the end and missed seven of its final eight shots after a tie at 83 with 4:37 to play.

GSU and Troy combined for a conference record 201 points in their last meeting in February, following a 162-point game last January. Today’s was 183 combined points.

Today, Troy made 11 of 23 3-pointers in the shootout as GSU was matching with 10 of 27, but misfired in six of its last seven 3-point attempts. The game included 161 field goal attempts, 31 free throws and 40 assists.

Host Georgia State shook up its line-up today, starting two freshmen and a sophomore, who all responded. Freshman Makeba Ponder tied her personal-best game with 22 points and six treys. Sophomore Ashanti Groover’s first start resulted in a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Kennesha Nichols added six points and five rebounds. Guard Ashley Watson added 14 points and four assists, while senior point guard Alisha Andrews made 10 assists to pass 500 career (508 now). Guard Ashlee Cole added 14 points and four treys off the bench.

Visiting Troy got a career-tying 27 points (9 of 14 field goals) from Kourtney Coleman, with 24 of those in the first half on 6 of 7 3-point baskets. Ronita Garrett added a double-double with 18 points (8 of 13) to go with 15 rebounds. Ashley Beverly-Kelley added 13 points and five assists.

Georgia State started hottest, leading the first seven minutes and up by five at 18-13 with seven of 10 field goals. Troy took its turn making 3-pointers and moved out 38-33 at 6:52. The teams had six ties in the first half before GSU made a free throw with 20.8 seconds to go up 51-50 at halftime.

Defense actually played a big role to start the second half as Troy forced six Georgia State turnovers in the first five minutes after GSU had just five turnovers the entire first half. Troy led 60-53 at 16:20 as a result.

Georgia State used a 7-0 run mid-second half to go back ahead 69-68 at 10:35 and the Panthers were ahead 75-72 with 8:03 to play. The shootout was in full force with ties at 80 and 82 and again at 83 with 4:37 left and it looked like a game that whoever has the ball last will win.

Rachel Reid hit a trey at 4:21 to put, but Ponder answered for GSU to close it to 88-87 at 3:20. Reid struck again from outside the arc at 3:05 and GSU went cold and could never close the gap. The final score was the largest lead of the game.

Georgia State held a 50-44 rebound advantage with 24 offensive rebounds. The Panthers made 17 of 20 free throws (85%) with Troy hitting 9 of 11 (81.8%). The wide-open game saw Troy with 22 assists and GSU with 18. Troy cashed in 20 points on GSU’s 15 turnovers.

“We played with a lot of effort and did some good things, but we missed shots at the end when we needed them and we didn’t defend enough to make some key stops,” coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “Troy is explosive, but so were we early. We had a lot of players contribute today, but with a loss it doesn’t mean as much.”