ARLINGTON, Texas -Host UT Arlington pulled away in the final four minutes for a 85-72 win over the Panthers in a Sun Belt Conference game Wednesday.
Georgia State closed back to 57-54 at 5:04 and 69-66 at 4:22 before Chauntranda Williams made back-to-back 3-point baskets in the next 50 seconds to extend the lead. Williams had been 0-for-4 outside the arc at that point.
Much of the "action" tonight seemed to be standing still as 54 fouls were called and 68 free throws were shot during the 40 minutes. GSU's point guard Alisha Andrews, who leads the Sun Belt in assists and steals, played only 13 minutes before fouling out with four assists and two points. Center Brittany Logan hung on to log 26 minutes after having three fouls in the first half. A trio of UTA players had four fouls early as well.
Georgia State slips to 8-7 in the Sun Belt and 12-15 overall. Logan paced the Panthers tonight with 17 points on 5-of-8 field goals and 7-of-11 free throws while completing her double-double with 11 rebounds.
Junior guard Ashley Watson made her first start since injuring her knee on Nov. 15 and responded well with 17 points on a perfect evening of 5-for-5 field goals and 7-for-7 free throws. Sophomore guard Gaby Moss came off the bench to score 13 points on 5-of-6, including 2-of-3 outside the 3-point line.
UT Arlington is just 3-12 in Sun Belt play and 4-22 overall, but they swept the GSU series. Six Mavericks scored in double figures, including three off the bench. Tahila Pope came off the bench to score 15 points, making 8-of-10 free throws. Allea Harris entered the game to add 3-of-4 3-pointers for 13 points. Starting forward Briana Walker had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Georgia State held a 38-36 rebound advantage, but also had a 28-24 lead in fouls called on them. In between the foul whistles, GSU had 11 steals and forced 16 turnovers.
The game had six lead changes and four ties in the first half. Visiting Georgia State had forged back ahead 19-17 with 9:58, but UTA got the lead back to 7 at 27-20 at 7:49. GSU answered right back to charge into a 29-29 tie with 5:02 on the clock. UTA spurted back ahead with a 15-6 run to end the first half and make it 44-35 at the break.
In the second half, UTA got the lead into double digits to 11 points at 50-39, but Georgia State got three steals and five points from Watson to narrow it back to 51-50 at 13:01 on the clock. The game was a three-point, one-possession margin three more times over the next nine minutes.
A big key, other than fouls, proved to be UTA's 3-point shooting (7-of-19) while GSU strugged with 3-of-17 outside the arc.GSU had made 141 3's entering the game and UTA just 102 on the season.
Georgia State stays in Texas to play Texas State on Saturday afternoon.
