ATLANTA – Georgia State used its size advantage to score 42 points in the paint and grab 42 rebounds in rolling to a 76-63 women's basketball win over North Florida Saturday in the GSU Sports Arena.
Forwards Haley Gerrin and Astaja Tyghter scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, to lead the home team in the win. By getting inside more, GSU shot a season-best 44.3 percent from the field. The Panthers also drove often to the basket, picking up fouls and getting to the free throw line 27 times, making 21.
Georgia State improves to 3-4 on the season as the Panthers head into Final Exam week with no games.
North Florida, who made 18 3-pointers in its last game, hit 8-of-28 today to stay close. Four Ospreys scored in double figures, including Taru Madekivi with 13 (3 of 6 treys) and Clair Ioannidis with 13 (3 of 8 treys).
The game started with six ties and seven lead changes. UNF had its last lead at 24-23 with 4:35 in the second quarter when GSU went on a 10-0 run to make it 33-24 with 1:20 in the quarter. The Panthers led 33-27 at halftime. The host Panthers maintained control throughout the third quarter and led 53-45 after three quarters.
To start the fourth, UNF scored to make it 53-47. But, GSU scored nine straight points to make it 62-47 with 6:40 to play. The Panthers equaled that 15-point spread again at 64-49. UNF closed a final time to 66-59 with 3:25 before GSU responded with six quick points to open it back to 72-59 with 1:58 to play.
“One of our key points of emphasis was rebounding and we did a good job with that today (+16 with 17 offensive rebounds),” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “Another point was taking better shots and we were more focused on that as the percentage indicates. One other emphasis was to have more assists than turnovers and we did that (19 assists, 18 turnovers).
“North Florida does a good job shooting the 3-point shot and made 18 the game before this, so you have to play defense inside and outside on them,” Baldwin-Tener added.
KK Williams, Tatianna Jackson and Madison Newby each missed double figures with eight points scored today. Newby added nine assists to her ledger. Alaysia Mitchell added seven rebounds and six points. GSU's defense forced 20 turnovers and made eight steals.
GSU plays next at the Stetson Hatter Classic in Florida on Dec. 20.
