JONESBORO, ARK. – Georgia State fell victim to Arkansas State's 19th straight home win and eighth-straight overall win 75-54 Thursday night at the ASU Convocation Center.
Georgia State, already with five players and three starters not able to travel, got into foul trouble with its nine players who dressed and succumbed to a 40-21 second half by the hosts.
Visiting GSU (8-10, 3-6) jumped out on Arkansas State 7-2 after three minutes before ASU rallied to break a 9-9 tie and take a 15-11 first quarter lead. GSU closed to 15-14 in the second quarter and trailed 19-16 at 6:00. ASU (15-3, 8-0) hit a jumper at the first-half buzzer to go in with a 35-26 halftime lead. By that point, GSU's only point guard dressed out (Madison Newby) had picked up three fouls.
In the third quarter, ASU edged ahead a little farther with a 15-9 as GSU had five players with three or more fouls and had to be extra cautious. When ASU opened the fourth quarter with four consecutive 3-point baskets the game was clearly decided.
GSU was whistled for 24 fouls, 12 on offense with the ball and 12 on defense. ASU's reserves picked up some late fouls to increase the Red Wolves total to 16. Alaysia Mitchell fouled out and Newby played the final 18 minutes with four fouls. Four Panthers played with three fouls.
The key stat for Arkansas State was scoring 33 points off Georgia State's season-high 29 turnovers.
Scrappy Georgia State did hold a 44-39 rebound advantage, despite being in the foul trouble.
GSU got 12 points each from Haley Gerrin and Morgan Jackson, with eight from Kennesha Nichols. The Panther rebounding leader was Alaysia Mitchell with eight and a trio with six rebounds (Gerrin, Nichols and Taleah Williams). The Panthers shot 41.7% from the field for the game.
“I can be proud of the fight the team showed as they played with effort and tried hard tonight,” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “We got tired in the second half with the lack of depth and couldn't fight as hard with the fouls, but we can still build from this loss. I have to admit that was probably the most charges I have seen called on my teams in all my years of coaching."
ASU was led by league MVP Aundrea Gamble with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Reserve Brittany Fowler hit 5-of-9 3-point baskets off the bench for 15 more points.
Georgia State moves across the state to play Little Rock on Saturday evening.
