ATLANTA (Feb. 6) –It took a “super” second half for Georgia State to upset first-place UNC Wilmington, 76-67, in a Colonial Athletic Association game on Super Bowl Sunday afternoon at the GSU Sports Arena.
Georgia State shot 63 percent in the second half, 3-for-3 outside the arc in the second half and 85.7 percent from the free throw line (12-14) in the second half to erase a UNC Wilmington halftime lead of 35-27.
Georgia State (8-14, 3-8) got a balanced effort with five players in double-figure scoring. Sophomore center Cody Paulk had a career-best 15 points and 10 rebounds to go with six blocked shots. Freshman guard Kendra Long added 14 points with three three-point baskets. Junior forward Chan Harris just missed a double-double with 13 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Tiffany Anderson added 11 more points with seven rebounds and Jerlisa Taylor came off the bench to add 10 points and three assists. Angelique Burtts was working toward a double-double with eight points, eight rebounds and four steals.
GSU shot 46.7 percent for the game and held a big 42-30 rebounding advantage with 16 offensive rebounds. The aggressive Panthers had 14 steals, forced 21 turnovers and blocked seven shots.
UNC Wilmington (17-5, 9-2) had an eight-game winning streak halted as they shot just 39 percent for the game. Senior center Martha White had 21 points and senior forward Brittany Blackwell added 14 points to pace the Seahawks. UNC Wilmington ranked No. 11 in the nation in shooting at 46 percent entering the game.
Georgia State had trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half (32-20) as they struggled with turnovers and poor shooting. But in the second half, they gained momentum. UNCW led 41-32 with 16:50 left in the game when GSU scored eight straight to close to 41-40 at 15:00. The teams were tied for the fifth time at 12:22 at 46-46 and UNCW had its last lead at 47-46 at 12:20.
GSU scored 18 points over the next five minutes while holding UNCW to just five to open a 64-52 lead at 7:35.
The visiting Seahawks final push closed it to 67-62 at 3:24. The Panthers Kendra Long nailed a three-pointer, Cody Paulk scored again, then Long made two free throws to push it back to 74-62 and GSU had its upset in motion.
GSU has played four of its last eight games against the three teams tied for first place. The Panthers had Old Dominion down by five with 2:37, but let that one slip away, 66-62.
“Our aggressiveness worked to our advantage in the second half,” said Coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener. “We defended better and certainly shot the ball a whole lot better. The team showed unselfish play today and we had a balanced scoring attack.”
With two more home games next week, the coach was optimistic. “I hope now we can build from this win, keep getting better and not slip back. We've played hard against a lot of good teams lately and we see what kind of effort it takes to win.”
GSU plays hosts to George Mason on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the second game of its three-game homestand.
NOTEBOOK:
The win was GSU's second this year of a team ranked in the Top 25 Mid Major National Poll. GSU defeated then No. 17-ranked Hofstra on Jan. 9, 84-70, and today took down the current No. 17-ranked team UNC Wilmington, 76-67.
Georgia State won an 18th consecutive game when scoring 70 or more points, including 5-0 this year.
Today's opponent was the 9th of the season ranked in the Top 100 of the 343 Division I universities that GSU has played.
The win for GSU marked a fourth consecutive over UNC Wilmington.
With seven more blocked shots today, GSU upped its league-leading total to 109.
