ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 18, 2006) ? Four players scored in double figures for Georgia State in a 66-63 victory over Florida A&M Monday on the first day of the UCF Holiday Classic at UCF Arena in Orlando, Fla. With the win, Panthers' head coach Lea Henry notches her 200th victory at the helm of the program and currently owns a mark of 200-156 in 13 seasons at Georgia State.

“The 200 wins are a direct reflection of the competitive young ladies I have had the opportunity to coach, and the support of the administration at Georgia State over the past 13 seasons,” expressed Henry. “We have all enjoyed the success over the years and we look forward to even more success in the future.”

Sophomore center Marcquitta Head (Conley, Ga.) and senior guard Kelcey Roegiers-Jensen (St. Petersburg, Fla.) each totaled a team-high 14 points for Georgia State (5-4) which has won five of its last six games. Head also tied her career-high with a game-best 16 rebounds for her fifth career double-double. Roegiers-Jensen added a game- and career-best 12 assists and posted nine rebounds.

“As players, we really were not aware of the 200 wins for Coach [Lea Henry],” said Roegiers-Jensen. “Once we found out, we felt honored for her and excited that we could be a part of such a tribute to her career. Tonight was a great team effort. We are just one team out of many that have had the opportunity to learn from her and help Coach achieve this recognition.”

Also in double figures were sophomore guard Brittany Hollins (Columbia, S.C.), who had 12 points, and freshman guard Tabitha David (Mableton, Ga.), who notched 11. State snapped the Lady Rattlers' four-game win streak.

Georgia State built a 20-point second half lead, 59-39, with 8:18 on the clock before Florida A&M (5-5) mounted a comeback. Leading 63-47, the Panthers' didn't score another field goal over the final 4:33 to hold on for the victory. Florida A&M's Marke Freeman, who scored 18 second-half points and finished with a game-high 21, registered 10 unanswered markers and helped pull the Lady Rattlers to within four, 63-59, with 48 seconds remaining. State sealed the win with three free throws from Hollins and Roegiers-Jensen with less than 25 seconds on the clock.

Georgia State trailed 9-8 with 15:10 left in the first half. A jumper from Roegiers-Jensen ignited an 11-1 run, capped by an old-fashioned three-point play from Head, to put the Panthers ahead to stay 19-10 with 10:45 remaining. The Lady Rattlers managed to trim the deficit to four, 30-26, as guard Taniyah Dawson connected on two free throws with 3:05 on the clock. However, State closed the period on a 7-0 run to stake a 37-26 halftime lead.

Florida A&M also received key performances from center Ifeoma Onuaku, who totaled a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and forward Secrett Anderson, who had 14 points. The Panthers shot 35 percent from the floor compared to 30 percent for the Lady Rattlers. Florida A&M out rebounded Georgia State, 52-45.

Georgia State returns to action Tuesday on day two of the UCF Holiday Classic as the Panthers take on North Florida at 5 p.m.

Box Score

Florida A&M (5-5) ? 26-37=63