ATLANTA (Nov. 24) ? Danyiell McKeller scored 12 of her game-high 15 points in the second half to lead Georgia State to a 63-51 win over Jacksonville State Saturday afternoon at the Georgia State Sports Arena.

The Panthers (2-3) shot 64 percent in the second half in erasing a 25-21 halftime deficit and notching their first home win of the season. Georgia State's defense also picked up its pace in the second half and limited JSU to 25.7 percent shooting, while posting a 42-34 rebound advantage.

Georgia State got a career-best 15 rebounds from forward Shay Rawls, plus 12 points, five assists and five steals from Brittany Hollins, as well as 10 points and six assists from point guard Monica Mann.

Guard Danielle Benby scored 15 points to lead Jacksonville State (1-4) and Zenobia Pitts added 10 points off the bench.

Georgia State started the game with a 10-4 lead but leading scorer Brittany Hollins picked up two quick fouls and headed to the bench. Jacksonville State took advantage and went on a 12-0 run to open a 10-point lead at 23-13. With Hollins back in, State went on a 6-0 run to end the first half and close to 25-21 at the break.

State also scored the first six points of the second half to take a 27-25 lead. The teams were tied for the fifth and final time at 31 with 16 minutes to play and the visitors held their final lead of the game and 37-35 before Monica Mann drained a three-point basket to give the host Panthers the lead for good.

“Having to sit Hollins in the first half obviously affected our tempo,” Coach Lea Henry noted post-game. “But we got better ball movement, played better defense and made the plays we needed to make in the second half. This is still a young team and we're breaking some bad habits and getting better. They practice hard and want to do well and we are making progress.”

Henry also was pleased with point guard Monica Mann making her second start. “She is maturing a making our team better. She is beginning to understand what we want to do and can do a lot of things for us.”

Mann has scored in double figures in both starts and had seven assists at No. 6 UNC on Monday and six assists this afternoon. “I take a lot of pride in my passing and that's my first role as the point guard. At halftime today, Coach told us to maintain our focus, to play hard and to tighten up our defense. And we did.”

The Panthers will look to get to .500 on the season when the play host to Jackson State on Tuesday night at the Sports Arena.

PANTHER POINTS NOTEBOOK: Sophomore McKeller had her career-best with 21 points last year vs. Jacksonville State and her 15 today mark her sixth career game with 15 or more...State's three freshman players combined for 17 points today and played 41 minutes...Rawls 15 rebounds top her 12 last year as a freshman against William & Mary to give her six games with 10 or more rebounds...State shot a season-best 45.5 percent for the game, topping is 43.3 in the win over Gardner-Webb...The 42 rebounds equal the season best of 42 vs. Gardner-Webb....The defense had 10 steals today to make it four consecutive games with 10 or more steals.