ATLANTA - Georgia State won its third straight game by having all five starters score in double figures in a 67-56 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Towson Sunday at the GSU Sports Arena.
Georgia State, which improves to 10-14 overall, 5-8 in CAA play, got double-double performances from two players. Senior forward Angelique Burtts scored 17 points and grabbled 10 rebounds, while junior Chan Harris had her 10th double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore center Cody Paulk added 12 points and eight rebounds. Guards Kendra Long and Jerlisa Taylor contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively. Long hit three-of-four baskets outside the three-point arc to up her season total to 47 made.
The host Panthers broke a 30-28 game wide open with a 9-0 start to the second half to make the score 39-28 six minutes into the half. They extended the run to 17-3 run to move ahead 47-31 with just under 10 minutes to go.
Georgia State had 12 steals and forced 24 Towson turnovers to keep the tempo going. Visiting Towson shot just 25 percent in the second half and 31 percent for the game. GSU held a 44-43 rebound advantage.
“Three wins in a row at this time of the year is nice, but I want to win the next three, too,” said head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener. “The balanced scoring is the big difference with our team now from the start of the season. It is always harder to stop a team when all five players can score in double figures, and we're getting that now. We fouled too much and were sloppy at times, but the team is practicing hard and playing hard now and that is what it takes at this level.”
Towson, 8-16 and 2-11, got 10 points and eight rebounds from guard Krystal Parnell. Today's win gave GSU a season sweep over Towson, following a 58-53 decision in Baltimore on Jan. 16.
Today's game was a little extra special with it being Letterwinners' Day and a day to honor two of the school's national tournament teams at halftime. The 30th anniversary of the 1980-81 team brought back a group that went 28-5, was ranked in the top 20, and made the exclusive 24-team AIAW Tournament, the pre-cursor of the NCAA Women's Tournament. The 10th anniversary season was a reunion of the squad that went 24-7, won the conference tournament and marched on to the first of three NCAA Tournaments.
"We had a good, supportive crowd today and it really helped us and gave us energy," Baldwin-Tener said. "Having the fans involved in a game like today makes a big difference."
Georgia State heads on the road to face 18-6 UNC Wilmington on Thursday and then William and Mary on Sunday.
A Photo Album from Sunday is available, click here.
