ATLANTA (Jan. 28, 2007) ? Georgia State's women's basketball team sank 17-of-22 free throws in the final four minutes to stave off any attempts at a Drexel rally, and defeated the Dragons' 78-67 Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association action at the Georgia State Sports Arena.
Georgia State senior guard Kelcey Roegiers-Jensen (St. Peterburg, Fla.) led all scorers with 22 points, including an 11-for-13 effort from the free throw line in the second period. The Panthers (12-8, 4-5 CAA) snap a two-game skid and improve to 6-3 at home. The victory also gives State two CAA wins at home in the same season for the first time since joining the league last year. Drexel loses its ninth straight contest to fall to 5-15 overall and 0-9 in league action.
Sophomore guard Brittany Hollins (Columbia, S.C.) totaled 15 points for Georgia State and sophomore center Marcquitta Head (Conley, Ga.) added 13. Junior center Vatai Smith (Greensboro, N.C.) came off the bench to record 10. Freshman forward Danyiell McKeller (Fayetteville, N.C.) totaled six points and five boards to go with career-highs in assists (4) and steals (4).
"We have a young team, but we don't want to play young," expressed Georgia State head coach Lea Henry. "We are ready to compete now. Each of our players in our eight-man rotation fulfilled their roles today."
Georgia State led 35-34 at halftime, but opened the second stanza on a 10-3 run to stake a 45-37 advantage five minutes into the frame. Ahead 55-46 with 9:08 remaining after a layup from the Panthers' Smith, Drexel responded with a 10-4 spurt, capped by a 3-pointer from Anora Suber at 4:19, to trim the margin to 59-56.
Roegiers-Jensen, who was fouled taking a 3-pointer on the ensuing State possession, drained all three from the charity stripe to begin the free throw shooting barrage for the Panthers. Hollins added a lay-in and Head made two free throws to extend the margin to 66-56 with 2:42 left.
The Dragons' Nicole McCombs, who finished tied for team-high honors with 15 points and corralled a team-best nine rebounds, cut the lead to seven, 70-63, with 51 seconds remaining. Drexel would get no closer than seven the rest of the way as State's free throw shooting proved to be the difference.
Anora Suber finished with a career-high 15 points off the bench for Drexel. Forward Gabriela Marginean totaled 11.
The Panthers shot over 56 percent from the floor in both halves and ended the contest making 57 percent of their field goal attempts. Drexel connected at a 46 percent clip and out rebounded Georgia State, 31-23. The Panthers made 19-of-24 (79 percent) free throws in the second period in finishing 21-of-26 (81 percent) for the game.
Georgia State goes on the road for its next two games, beginning at Towson Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. and at Delaware Sunday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m.
Box Score
Drexel (5-15, 0-9 CAA) -- 34-33=67
Georgia State (12-8, 4-5 CAA) -- 35-43=78
