Birmingham, AL (Dec. 16) ? Host UAB hung on at the end to defeat Georgia State, 72-63, in the championship game of the UAB Blazer Invitational Tuesday night at Bartow Arena.
Scrappy Georgia State battled back to within four points at 67-63 with 25 seconds left, but UAB continued to make free throws to earn the win and end State's three-game winning streak.
UAB, who shot just 4-18 outside in arc in Monday's game, roared out with seven three-point baskets in the first half and nine for the game to make a difference. And, then the Blazers finished with 23-of-31 free throws for another huge advantage compared to State's 8-of-16 from the line. The Blazers only losses at home have been to top 25-ranked Auburn and Florida.
“We are proud of how the kids stayed tough when it seemed a lot was going against us tonight,” Coach Henry noted. “They show heart and character. They come out positive every game and really play hard to win. We'll learn some lessons from tonight and come back home and build another winning streak.”
Georgia State senior guard Brittany Hollins, a career 1,000-point scorer, had a career-best 26 points and 10 rebounds to top her previous best of 25 points. Hollins had 18 points in a second-half rally that saw State rally from a 15-point deficit. Danyiell McKeller had 10 rebounds and five points. Freshman point guard Crystal Johnson had seven assists and seven points.
Two Georgia State players were named to the All-Tournament team: Jylisa Williams after her 23 points in last night's win and Danyiell McKeller with her 21 rebounds and 20 points in the two games.
Georgia State started tonight with a 6-0 lead and led for the first seven minutes and had a 14-12 lead with 12:52. But, UAB started making three's to build a 21-17 lead at 8:35 to 34-23 by halftime. And, frustrating for State was most of UAB's three-point baskets were with the shot clock running down and being closely guarded.
Georgia State (4-3), following five of its first seven games on the road, will return home to Atlanta for the rest of the month. State will play host to Delaware State on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Sports Arena. Georgia State will host its 15th annual tournament on Dec. 29-30 this year to give the Panthers three straight home games.
NOTEBOOK: Hollins' 62nd career double-figure game was just her fifth of 20 or more points and upped her career total to 1,033...Georgia State's 40 rebounds tonight vs. UAB included 20 offensive rebounds, a season high...The Panthers have outscored every opponent this year in the second half (+62 for the season)...Georgia State's 8 steals marked the first time they didn't have at least 10 this season as they led the nation in that category for the last two weeks...State was a +2 in steals and a +2 in turnover margin to maintain its advantage in every game this season...Brittany Graham's two three-point baskets upped her team best to 10 on the season...Crystal Johnson's 7 assists upped her team best total to 31 (4.4 per game). The 7 topped her personal best 6 from the Presbyterian game...While McKeller's streak of six-straight double-figure scoring games ended, she had a second straight double-figure rebounding game and made it three double-figure rebounding games on the season.
