Georgia State coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener used the word frustrating multiple times in describing her team's 50-41 loss to UAB Thursday night at the GSU Sports Arena.
The Panthers' new boss offered these bits of analysis:
• "It is frustrating to hold a good team like UAB to 50 points and not really give yourself a chance to win."
• "It is frustrating to shoot 6-of-15 from the free throw line in a nine-point loss.
• "Making 23 turnovers, with so many unforced errors like throwing the ball away or traveling, frustrates me."
• "I bet we missed seven or eight lay-ups tonight. That is frustrating."
Visiting UAB (4-3) from Conference USA pulled away from a 13-13 tie after the first 10 minutes of play to outscore host GSU (3-3) over the final 10 minutes of the half 13-7 to take a 26-20 lead into halftime. GSU was matching turnovers for shots in the first half as the host Panthers commited 15 first-half turnovers and got off only 16 shots.
In the second half, UAB opened with a 7-0 run to make it 33-20 with 17:50 left. A three-point basket by Amanda Peterson at 12:35 gave UAB its largest lead of the game at 42-24 with that 16-4 start to the second half.
GSU re-grouped and made a rally, getting it back to 45-35 with 7:16 left to play, but could never mount another serious rally in that final seven minutes.
UAB was led by Amber Jones, who scored 14 points in 25 minutes coming off the bench. Peterson's three treys gave her nine points and guard Khalilah Watson added nine more for the Blazers.
GSU had no one in double figures as Chan Harris topped the stats with nine points and 10 rebounds. Leading scorer Angelique Burtts did not start for the first time in her career at GSU for team discipline and scored just seven points in 22 minutes.
Georgia State did end up with a 35-33 rebounding advantage, but gave up 14 offensive rebounds to also frustrate the Panthers head coach. GSU did shoot 41% from the field and held UAB to 35%, but the turnovers cost the Panthers too few attempted shots.
"We will take our week-long break now to give the team time to study and take their final semester exams," the coach noted. "Then, we must come back with more energy, more passion and more hustle and get ourselves headed back in the right direction."
Georgia State plays host to Western Carolina on Saturday, December 11.
