TOWSON, MD (Feb. 12) - Towson's Shanae Baker-Brice drained a key three-point basket from deep in the corner with the shot clock running down and 29.6 seconds left in the game to propel the host Tigers to a 55-50 decision over Georgia State Friday afternoon in a game delayed a day by the three-feet of snow in Baltimore.
In a game tied five times with six lead changes, the difference ended up being Towson's 22-of-31 from the free throw line to Georgia State's 10-of-18. The visiting Panthers had 17 more field goal attempts than Towson (59-42) and made 18 compared to Towson's 15 as GSU controlled the boards, 42-37, with 20 offensive rebounds. State's defense had 13 steals to 3 for the Tigers and forced 20 Towson turnovers while turning it over just 14 times themselves.
Georgia State shot just 30.5% for the game with a 28% cold first half, but the Panthers' defense was holding Towson to just 35% with just 30% in the second half to keep the game back and forth.
Georgia State (13-10, 4-8) got 11 points off the bench from Traci Haltiwanger and 11 points from point guard Crystal Johnson. But, Georgia State's ace, Danyiell McKeller, was just 1-of-13 with five points after entering the game in the top 20 in the country at 19.2 per game. McKeller did lead the Panthers with 10 rebounds and five steals.
Towson (12-11, 6-6) improved to 10-2 at home behind Baker-Brice's 25-point game that included 9-of-15 free throws. Katrina Wheeler had 15 points, including a perfect 7-of-7 free throws, to go with her 13 rebounds.
Crystal Johnson had made one-of-two free throws with 9:12 left to send the game into its fifth tie. Towson responded with five-of-six free throws and a lay-up over the next eight minutes to maintain the lead when Johnson's jumper closed it to 50-47 with 55 seconds left.
The host Tigers called time out and then held the ball in the backcourt as GSU was in a zone hoping to force a long shot. As the clock ticked away its final five ticks of the shot clock, Baker-Brice launched her trey from the left corner over the outstretched hand of a Panther defender to make it a six-point lead.
But, GSU wasn't quite done as Traci Haltiwanger knocked down a three at 14.3 seconds to bring it back to 53-50. The Tigers got the ball into Baker-Brice, who was quickly fouled and went to the line for two free throws. She drained them both and re-sealed the victory.
"We showed toughness, came back and kept fighting, but our open shots weren't going in today," head coach Lea Henry said. "We're disappointed and know we played hard, but you have to shoot better from the field and the free throw line to win on the road in this league. And, that certainly wasn't a typical Danyiell McKeller scoring day. But, we got some contributions from other players and that may give them some confidence for future games."
GSU plays at Delaware in a TV game on Sunday at noon on CSS.
NOTEBOOK: McKeller became only the sixth Panther player to ever start 100 games at GSU...The 20 offensive rebounds were one shy of the season best of 21 vs. Murray State...With 13 more steals today, this marked the 15th game this year the Panthers have produced double-digit thefts...The Panthers were No. 20 in the nation in defense (55 per game) and allowed just that number today...The five points were a season-low for McKeller, who has had 12 games with 20 or more points this year...Haltiwanger had her first double-figure game of this season and 14th career double-figure game. Haltiwanger made three three's in a game for the third time this season and ninth time in her careeer...Freshman Erica Sumpter's seven points off the bench in 11 minutes tied her personal best of seven in 13 minutes vs. JMU...McKeller's 10 rebounds were her 14th career double-figure rebounding game and pushed her past the 600-mark for her career...Crystal Johnson has shot 12-20 from the field the last three games with back-to-back double-figure games...This game in the rivalry with Towson continued the pattern of close finishes (two have been OT) with the last six all decided by single digits.
