ATLANTA – Down 23 points on its home court with 16:26 to play, Georgia State staged the biggest comeback in school history to post an 87-84 win over Belmont on Wednesday in the GSU Sports Arena.

Trailing 48-32 at halftime and then 57-34 with 16:26 to play, host Georgia State combined a defense that produced 21 steals with an offense that scored 55 second-half points.  To do that, the Panthers substituted 12 players in and out, utilizing five guards for a full-court press at times, or attacking with the post players to get the first win of the season (1-5).

There was no one hero, but what proved to be the nails in the coffin were a pair of free throws with 24.9 seconds left by senior guard Kendra Long. Long also calmly made two free throws with 55.9 seconds left in the game. Her 16 second-half points gave Long 23 points to tie her personal-best game at Georgia State and ups her career total to 958 points as she closes in on 1,000 points.

Junior 4-foot-11 point guard Alisha Andrews stepped up with 22 points, six steals and five assists. Andrews tied her personal-best with six 3-point baskets today, hitting 6-of-9 shots from beyond the arc.

Junior guard Kayla Nolan came off the bench to score 11 points and make five steals. It was her drive to the basket with 31 seconds that gave Georgia State its first lead at 85-84. The game had been tied at 27 with 7:36 in the first half, but GSU had never led.

Belmont (3-5) was led by 21 points and 11 rebounds from Jordyn Luffman. Atlanta native Katie Carroll (Parkview High School/Lilburn) added 15 points on five 3-point baskets, while Frankie Joubran provided 13 points and nine rebounds.

In the first half, Georgia State closed to 31-29 with six minutes to go in the first half, but hot Belmont went on a 17-3 run to close out the half and take a 48-32 lead at the midway break. Belmont shot 57 percent in that first half and held a 23-16 rebound advantage. 

In the second half, Belmont got off to a quick 9-2 start to make it 57-34 at 16:26 and appeared on its way to an easy win. But, GSU upped the defensive pressure and began to produce 15 of its 21 second-half turnovers.

Georgia State shot 10-for-21 outside the 3-point line (47.6%), one shy of the season best, while converting 13-of-15 free throws (86.7%). The Panthers made their final eight free throws, all key points. Georgia State attacked inside, scoring 42 points in the paint today and 36 points off turnovers.

“I am proud of the team's fight and effort today and knew we had more in us than we showed in that first half,” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “The team was excited and exhausted at the end of the game and I reminded them that is how you should feel when you walk off the court after giving everything you have. Coaches always tell players if you play defense, you can usually win and you get more playing time yourself on the court. Those that did that in the second half made the difference.”

Coach Baldwin-Tener had changed the starting line-up and used 12 players in looking for a spark.

NOTEBOOK:

• The 21 steals tied for the fourth-most in a game in school history. It is the most steals since 1995 (23 vs. Kennesaw State).
• The 87 points are the most scored by GSU since Dec. 29, 2010 when it scored 91 vs. MVSU.
• This was the first time GSU had two players score 20 or more points in the same game since Nov. 14, 2009 when Danyiell McKeller and Chan Harris each scored 22 in a win over Kennesaw State.
• Freshman forward Haley Gerrin made her first start and responded with eight points, a rebound and a steal in 22 minutes.
• Gaby Moss leads the Sun Belt in 3-point shooting percentage, hitting 8-of-14 (.571) on the year after 1-2 in Wednesday's game.
• This is the second game of the season GSU has made 10 or more 3-point baskets (11 vs. UT Martin)
• Andrews' 6 3-point baskets ties for third-most made in a game in school history (with six others).