Despite being paced by Third Team All-CAA member Brittany Hollins' 17 points, the Georgia State University women's basketball team fell to William & Mary, 82-60, in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship in Newark, Delaware on Thursday afternoon at the Bob Carpenter Center.
Hollins led the way for State with a 17 point, eight rebound and three assist performance, but the Panthers failed to muster enough points to trump the Tribe, as William & Mary limited the Panthers to just 33.8 percent shooting (23-of-68). While State struggled to find its shot, the Tribe was consistent from the court, shooting better than 44 percent from the field (25-of-56), over 40 percent from behind the arc (10-of-24) and topped 78 percent from the charity stripe (22-of-28) in ending the Panthers' season.
“Obviously, we did not defend the three-point shot well in the first half,” said Georgia State head coach Lea Henry. “When you give up 24 points in that manner, you dig yourself a hole that is real hard to get out of.
“We've had trouble scoring all year and it was no different today. We had a lot of open shots today and just didn't make them,” added Henry. “William & Mary is a good veteran team and they played well today.”
Georgia State (8-22, 5-14) played well in the post as the Panthers held a 45-to-41 rebounding advantage over the tribe, including 23 offensive rebounds that led to 26 second-chance points. Contributing to the post production was senior center Vatai Smith, who added ten points and eight rebounds, while freshman forward Chandra Harris scored 11 points and grabbed three boards.
Despite advantages in rebounding, second-chance points (26-to-10) and bench production (25 points-to-19), the Panthers were unable to find a rhythm against the Tribe. On the offensive side, William & Mary (14-17, 7-11) forced State into 15 turnovers, while State forced just 13 turnovers with just five steals.
Entering the contest, the Panthers averaged nine steals per game and forced 19.6 turnovers per game.
Georgia State loses just one senior from the team's 2007-08 roster, center Vatai Smith, and the team returns 11 student athletes.
“We've got a great foundation for the future, even though our record doesn't indicate it at the moment,” said Henry.
Second-round action of the CAA Women's Basketball Championships continued on Friday at noon as second-seeded James Madison tips off against William & Mary at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Delaware.
