ATLANTA (Dec. 29) - Georgia State raced to a 91-65 win over Mississippi Valley State in the opening game of the 17th annual GSU Holiday Invitational on Wednesday before 773 fans at the GSU Sports Arena.
Georgia State shot 62 percent in the first half in opening a 51-28 lead and 54 percent for the game. The last time the Panthers scored 90 or more points was Dec. 9, 2006, a span of 122 games.
The win today also marked the 200th in head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener's career.
GSU (5-5) had five players score in double figures with a sixth player having double-figure rebounds. Freshman point guard Kendra Long hit 7-of-10 shots, including 4-of-5 three-pointers, for 18 points and four assists in 24 minutes. Senior Angelique Burtts added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Recent addition Marcquitta Head added 12 points and 9 rebounds in her third game back with GSU after a two-year layoff. Guards Tiffany Anderson and Traci Haltiwanger each added 11 points. Junior forward Chan Harris got her season-average 11 rebounds to go with seven points and six assists in her 24 minutes. All 13 players saw action today with 11 getting points or rebounds.
MVSU (2-8) got 18 points from Lenise Stalling, who made six-of-13 three-point baskets. Ka'Neishia Smith added 11 points and Alia Frank 10 more points.
GSU opened the game with a 6-0 start as MVSU called a quick time out less than two minutes into the game. Leading 23-17 nine minutes into the game, the host Panthers went on a quick 8-0 burst to make it 31-17 and the lead was never under double digits the rest of the way. The Panthers led 51-28 at the halftime break.
GSU began the second half with a 9-0 start to make it a 32-point lead at 60-28 with 17 minutes to play. GSU had its largest lead of 37 points at 76-39 with 10:55 left to play.
Georgia State dominated on the boards with a 51-34 advantage, with 16 offensive rebounds. State forced 28 turnovers and made 20 steals, leading to 20 fast-break points on layups.
"We obviously did a lot of good things in that first half and got out in transition to get the easy baskets," said Coach Baldwin-Tener on her 200th win. "We did a good job crashing the glass and limiting them to one shot most of the game."
"Kendra Long has a lot of confidence in her three-point shot and we need the freshman to keep getting better for us at the point guard spot," Baldwin-Tener added. "Marcquitta (Head) gives us another big presence in the paint. She helps us in a lot of ways, gets to the free throw line and takes charges on defense."
GSU will play Hampton, a 61-43 winner over Troy, in Thursday's 4 p.m. championship game.
