MONROE, LA. – In the final game of the season for both teams, visiting Georgia State fell to the University of Louisiana at Monroe 82-68.
The game was closer than the score might indicate with nine lead changes and six ties. ULM led 32-29 at halftime. ULM grew its lead to double figures in the third quarter, but GSU closed back to 58-54 with 6:32 left in the game. The visitors were down by seven points at 72-65 with 2:30 to play.
The flow of the game was interrupted by 50 personal fouls called with three players fouling out (Makeba Ponder and Haley Gerrin for GSU, Ashley Aune for ULM) as the teams shot 54 free throws. ULM gained an advantage making 25 of 30 free throws.
GSU (10-19, 5-15) got a career-tying best 17 points from senior Morgan Jackson in her final game. She made her first four 3-point shots through three quarters before a miss in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Ponder scored 13 points with 2-of-4 treys before fouling out. Freshmen Kierra Henry and KK Williams came off the bench to add second-half spark with 12 points and nine points, respectively. Senior Ashlee Cole had six points and three rebounds in her final game as a Panther.
ULM (12-17, 6-14) beat Georgia State for the first time in six tries over the three years as Sun Belt members. Senior forward Alayshia Hunter, an all-conference pick, played her final game with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Daja Chase had 12 second-half points and 19 total points. ULM made 7 of its 16 3-point attempts (43.8%) in today's win.
ULM had a commanding 40-26 advantage over GSU, a team that averages 38 boards a game. The hustling Warhawks had 17 offensive rebounds today. GSU averages 14 offensive boards a game, but today gained just six offensive boards. ULM also converted 24 points off 18 turnovers by GSU.
“On a positive, senior Morgan Jackson came to play today and was outstanding,” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “I'm proud of some of our freshmen who added some energy today. The third-quarter was big for ULM. You can't win with the number of offensive rebounds we allowed and the numbers of turnovers we gave them that led to easy points.”
Georgia State can regroup for next season with 11 returners, including sophomore leading scorer Ponder and four freshmen who logged more than 2,200 minutes playing time in their first seasons. The top six scorers are among the 11 players who return.
