Charleston, S.C. (Nov. 29) ? Georgia State's furious second-half rally fell a basket short as the host College of Charleston hung on for a 51-49 win.
The visiting Panthers found themselves down by 15 points with 14:31 to play in the game, but came back to tie the game at 47 with 1:57 to play. Charleston regained the lead at 51-49 with 10.6 seconds, but Georgia State had one final try for a tie or win. Jylisa Williams got open for a 15-foot baseline jumped that rimmed off.
The game was the second women's game played in the Carolina First Arena, the 5,100-seat arena that opened Nov. 12.
Georgia State (1-2) was led by Danyiell McKeller's 15 points and eight rebounds, with Crystal Johnson adding 10 more points. Jylisa Williams had seven steals, nine points and nine rebounds as she was working toward a rare triple-double game. Charleston (4-1) got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Brooke Kotcella and 13 points from Nikki Williams.
Georgia State shot just 25.7 percent in the first half (9-of-35) and 29.2 percent for the game (19-of-65). Charleston's difference was six three-point baskets, five coming in the first half.
“I can be proud of the team's effort today, but we just didn't make the shots we normally can make,” coach Lea Henry noted. “I liked the fight we showed, but you probably don't win many games shooting 29 percent.”
“Our press stepped up more in the second half and we forced 26 turnovers that gave us a chance to win,” Henry said. “And, we got a great look on our last shot, but like most of today, that one didn't fall either. Now, we finally get to go home and play some games after all these on the road, so we look forward to building a win streak now.”
Host Charleston had three different 7-0 runs early in the game to build a 25-11 lead with 7:27 in the first half. The Cougars took a 31-19 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Charleston sixth and final trey of the game made it 38-23 at 14:31. But, up-tempo Georgia State went on a 14-2 run and held Charleston to one field goal with seven turnovers over the next nine minutes to close to 40-36 with seven and a half minutes to play.
Charleston still led by nine at 45-36 with 4:53 when State went on a 11-2 run to tie the game at 47 on a Brittany Hollins-to-Jylisa Williams lay-up at 1:57. Two free throws by Charleston and then a driving bank by Crystal Johnson made it 51-49 for the final 10.6 seconds, when a final State forced turnover gave them the final chance.
The Panthers will play their season home opener on Tuesday when Presbyterian College (2-3) comes to Atlanta for a 6 p.m. game. That is followed by home games with Alabama State and Winthrop as the Panthers get to enjoy their own court for the first time this season.
