ATLANTA (Jan. 11) ? Georgia State upped its season home record to 7-0 with a 55-48 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Delaware on Sunday afternoon at the Sports Arena.
Georgia State (9-4, 2-1) overcame a rash of injuries in battling the league's top-ranked defensive team in Delaware, who allowed just 51 per game.
The Panthers lost leading scorer and rebounder Danyiell McKeller to an injury after eight minutes. Then, both freshman guards Crystal Johnson and Jylisa Williams limped on and off with injuries. Junior forward Shay Rawls was slowed by the flu, but gave 12 minutes.
Georgia State got 13 points from guards Jylisa Williams on 5-of-9 and 11 points from Crystal Johnson on 4-of-7 shooting to go with her team-best eight rebounds. Chandra Harris came off the bench to replace McKeller and responded with nine points, while Brittany Graham came off the bench to add eight points. Senior leader Brittany Hollins set the tempo with eight points and six steals. Leading scorer and rebounder McKeller did not score or grab a rebound due to her injury.
Delaware (8-6, 0-3) was led in scoring by 10 points off the bench from Jocelyn Bailey. Vanessa Kabongo and Corinthia Benson each added eight points, while Ariene Jenkins had eight rebounds to lead the Blue Hens.
Georgia State jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start the game, led by as many as nine points twice and took a 26-19 lead into halftime after shooting 55 percent in the opening stanza against the league's top-rated defense that allowed just 34 percent.
In the second half, Delaware came charging out with second-chance points to tie the game for the first time at 30 with 15:21. But, host State responded to re-gain a 35-30 lead. Delaware tied it again at 42 with 7:27 left.
Georgia State's freshman guards Williams and Johnson then went to work. A driving layup and free throw by Williams gave State the lead it would not lose again at 45-44 with 5:52. Johnson had a run of six straight points to put State ahead 51-46 with 3:20 to go. Delaware closed to 52-48 with 1:57, but two more free throws by Williams sent State on the path to victory.
“I am pleased with the toughness the team showed today,” coach Lea Henry said. “They executed at crucial times and answered when we ask them to do specific things. Missing McKeller obviously hurt us, but we didn't get too frustrated and kept fighting and really played hard on the defensive end. I thought Brittany Hollins' effort was tremendous on defense with her six steals and she stepped up on the offensive end in the stretch also.
With Delaware leading the league in scoring allowed and shooting percentage, plus Georgia State leading in steals and forced turnovers, defense was going to be a factor in this game. Georgia State forced 24 Delaware turnovers and Delaware forced the Panthers into 22 turnovers. Georgia State held Delaware to 34 percent for the game and State shot 42 percent. Delaware claimed a 34-32 rebound advantage with 17 offensive boards, but State also had 13 on its offensive end.
The Panthers have held all seven opponents at home to 60 points or fewer this year. Georgia State has won eight of its last 10 games.
Georgia State will now go on the road for three consecutive CAA games, beginning with a Thursday night 7 p.m. game at Drexel (7-7, 2-1) in Philadelphia.
