BOSTON (Feb. 12) ? Georgia State hit a three-point basket at the buzzer to force overtime, but host Northeastern rallied in that overtime to claim a 68-66 win in CAA action Thursday night.
Georgia State (11-12, 3-9) got a three-point basket from Traci Haltiwanger as the horn sounded in regulation to tie the game at 56 and send it into overtime. The Panthers had been down 10 at halftime, but roared back to tie the game at 35 with seven minutes left.
When Northeastern built the lead back to seven points at 51-44 with 1:52 left, Georgia State rallied once again. A pair of old-fashioned three-point plays by point guard Crystal Johnson, the last at 14 seconds sparked the rally. When Northeastern's Ashlee Feldman made a pair of free throws with 5.9 seconds to make it 56-53, Georgia State got the ball down court and Haltiwanger let fly an off-balance trey that swished. Georgia State actually had a chance to take the lead with 13 seconds left in regulation, down 54-53, but had a turnover before the foul on Feldman.
In overtime, Northeastern struck first on a basket and two free throws, but Georgia State still wouldn't go away. The Panthers got a basket from Danyiell McKeller to close to 65-64 with 11 seconds left. When Feldman made two free throws again with 10 seconds, Johnson's lay-up cut it to 67-66 with 3.1 seconds. A free throw by Tiffany Crews made it 68-66 and left State one final chance, but a turnover ended the game.
Georgia State had a game-high 14 points in regulation by Jylisa Williams, but she fouled out in the closing minute of regulation and that hurt State in the overtime. Crystal Johnson had 11 points and seven assists, while Haltiwanger also finished with 11 points. Chandra Harris and Brittany Hollins had 10 each to give State five in double figures. Danyiell McKeller led in rebounds with a game-high 11 to go with her six points.
The Panthers dominated the boards, 50-31, with 29 offensive rebounds. But, Georgia State shot just 25 percent in the first half to find themselves down by 10. State rebounded to shoot 46 percent in the second half to force the overtime. The Panthers took 77 shots from the floor, 33 more shot attempts than Northeastern's 44.
Northeastern (9-14, 6-6) was led by guard Jasmine Crew who shot 10-of-15, including 3-for-3 outside the three-point line, en route to a game-high 27 points. Forward Kim Carr added 16 points and nine rebounds. Feldman added 11 more points. Northeastern's key was making 7-of-16 treys and 21-of-28 free throws, including 5-of-6 in overtime.
“It's a tough loss because we need a win now, but the spirit and effort was there in the second half as evidenced by the 50 rebounds and 29 offensively” Coach Lea Henry said. “Losing Jylisa (Williams) and not having her for the overtime didn't help us, either. But, we have to play 40 minutes hard from opening tip to the final whistle to win. I think we can build on this effort as McKeller keeps getting back in shape and getting her legs back under her after being out a month.
Georgia State led 8-7 after nine and a half minutes, as both teams were cold from the floor. It was still 14-12 with 6:50 left in the half when State kept missing and Northeastern went on a 14-6 run to close the half and take the 28-18 lead into the break.
The Panthers will return home for Sunday's “Hoops For Hope” cancer awareness and fund-raising game with CAA rival Drexel.
