Asheville, N.C. ? Georgia State got 18 points, seven assists and five steals from junior guard Brittany Hollins to post a 63-59 win over Gardner-Webb and advance to the Saturday championship game of the Carolina First Classic against Davidson.
The Panthers (1-1) built a double-digit lead and were still cruising at 59-46 with just 3:52 to play when missed free throws and turnovers let the Bulldogs (1-2) close to 62-59 in the final minute. State was just 4-of-13 from the free throw line in that second half.
“We played well tonight until those last few minutes when all we had to do was make some free throws,” Coach Lea Henry said. “Brittany Hollins was great tonight, especially in the first half, and our defense was better than our opener. But, we're still a young team and we have to learn to play with poise.”
Georgia State also got a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds from sophomore forward Shay Rawls. Hollins was a solid 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 outside the three-point arc, as well as 2-for-2 at the line. Hollins, who was No. 5 in the nation in steals last year (3.3) was above her average tonight with five as she upped her career total to 185 for seventh in school history. Gardner-Webb got 14 points from Laura Povilonyte and Dominique Hudson.
Despite some impressive stats, Hollins was not too pleased postgame. “I am the point guard and I must do better to control the ball and the team tempo. We have got to learn to take care of these leads we are building and not let teams get back into the game. But it is good to get this win.”
Georgia State led 32-23 at halftime and built its lead to 37-25 by 18:04. State had the lead up to 14 points at 48-34 with 8:40 to play.
In the first half, the teams were trading the lead for the first 10 minutes with Gardner-Webb enjoying its last lead at 11-9 with nine minutes to play. But, Georgia State stepped it up on both ends of the court to burst into an 11-0 run over the next four minutes and opened a 22-11 advantage. Hollins led that spark with a pair of steals and baskets. In that first half, Hollins had 13 of State's 32 points and four steals.
Georgia State will play in the championship game on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Davidson, who defeated host UNC Asheville in the nightcap.Gardner-Webb and UNC Asheville will play at 2 p.m.
Notebook: Georgia State ran its all-time series record with Gardner-Webb to 7-0 as it has never lost to the Bulldogs...Hollins' 18 points tied for her second-most career behind her 22 last year against Savannah State and equaled her 18 vs. CAA rival William & Mary....Shaw Rawls enjoyed the second double-double of her career. Her 14 points were a career-best after 12 last year vs. George Mason...Monica Mann enjoyed career bests in points (5), rebounds (5) and assists (5)....
