ATLANTA (Nov. 28) - In a game fitting of a championship contest, Rice and GSU battled right to the wire with visiting Rice claiming a 55-52 win in the GSU Thanksgiving Tournament.
Georgia State battled back to make it a two-point game at 54-52 with 1:48 to play. Rice misfired and GSU had a chance to tie or go-ahead, but missed on a three-point shot, got the rebound and missed a two-pointer with 30 seconds left. Rice turned the ball over again, but GSU had a turnover of its own with 12 seconds. Morgan Mayse made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left, leaving GSU one last chance for a tying shot. But, they couldn't find the open shot and time ran out.
Rice (4-3) got 18 points from Morgan Mayse and 14 from Brianna Hypolite. Georgia State (3-2) was led by Angelique Burtts with 22 points and got a strong double-double from Chan Harris with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Georgia State had a 42-40 rebound advantage, including 22 offensive boards, but Rice countered by making six three-point baskets in the first half.
Rice started the game strong, hitting 9-of-15 shots and 4-of-8 treys, to open a 22-17 lead just over eight minutes into the game. But, GSU responded and eventually gained the lead again at 32-31 with 50 seconds in the half. Rice's D'Frantz Smart hit the Owls' sixth three-pointer of the half to give them a 34-32 halftime lead.
The visiting Owls led 42-39 with 10:46 in the game when their defense provided a couple steals and transition baskets as they stretched the lead to 10 at 49-39 with 8:55. However, GSU was ready with an answer and closed back to three at 51-48 with four minutes left in the game. That set the stage for the frantic four minutes to see who could get that last basket that was going to be the game winner.
"Rice is a good, well-coached basketball team," said Coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener. "They hit those outside shots in the first half and we had to make adjustments to stop that. We kept fighting all game long and gave ourselves a chance there at the end. It was disappointing to miss some of those final shots and especially frustrating not to get the last shot off in the final 10 seconds."
Rice's tough early slate saw them lose to No. 2 Baylor and No. 8 Texas A & M, so they are happy to leave Atlanta with two wins. Georgia State moves on to host another C-USA school in UAB on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
All-Tournament Team: Morgan Mayse, Rice; Angelique Burtts & Chan Harris, GSU; Whiquitta Tobar, Alabama A&M, Briana Williams, Mercer.
Tournament MVP: Brianna Hypolite, Rice
