Georgia State’s Ponder Named Freshman Mid-Major All-American

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

Georgia State freshman Makeba Ponder has been named a Third-Team Division I Mid-Major Freshman All-American by FullCourt.com.

Ponder, who led Georgia State in scoring and the Sun Belt Conference in 3-point baskets made per game, is one of the 15 freshmen honored by FullCourt.com-Inside Women’s Basketball, the longest running provider of women’s basketball coverage on the web.

The guard from Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County High School) made 69 3-point baskets (2.5 per game) to rank first in the Sun Belt and No. 61 in the NCAA. The sharpshooter hit 40.5 percent to rank No. 2 in the Sun Belt and No. 34 in the NCAA.  That 40.5 led all freshmen players in the country.

“Makeba Ponder had a solid freshman season as she transitioned into Division I basketball and this makes us excited about Georgia State’s future,” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “She has the potential to become one of the best players in the Sun Belt if she keeps working and this is something both she and GSU can build upon. We’re thrilled for Makeba and for our basketball program.”

Ponder, who had led the state of Georgia in scoring and 3-point baskets in high school in 2013-14, came on as a freshman to produce 15 double-figure scoring games for Georgia State. That included six games with 20 or more points.

An outside scorer, Ponder made 7 of 9 3-point baskets to tie for the second-most made in a game in GSU history. She had five games with 5-or-more 3-point baskets made.

She averaged 11.3 points per game, while shooting 76.4 percent from the free throw line. Her 69 3-point baskets made this season tied the Georgia State single-season record.