The Panthers look to extend their 3-0 win streak in the GSU Thanksgiving Tournament as they face Bethune-Cookman (Wed.) and Elon (Thurs.) at 12:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
> The Panthers lead the Sun Belt and rank 13th nationally in steals per game (23.67).
> Preseason All-Sun Belt guard Mikyla Tolivert is off to a strong start after putting up 12 points in the Panthers' last contest against Kennesaw State on Nov. 14. Tolivert leads the Panthers in scoring (15.5 ppg), 3-pointers (0.5 percent) and free throws (6.5 per game). The versatile junior guard made a big leap in her sophomore season, averaging a team-high 14.3 points in 2023-23, along with 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 2022-23. She ranked 10th in the Sun Belt in scoring and 12th in assists while leading Georgia State in scoring, assists, steals and free throw percentage, and stands second in rebounding. She shot 82.7 percent from the free throw line to rank fourth in the Sun Belt.
> Veteran leader Deasia Merrill has made a defensive impact on the court, posting nine rebounds on the season. Merrill is second in the team in rebounding, averaging 4.5 per game. The 6-1 senior from Villa Rica, Ga., was second on the team in the 2022-23 season with 13.6 points per game, along with a team-leading 7.2 rebounds. She ranked 11th in the Sun Belt in scoring and 10th in rebounding.
> Veteran guard Kamryn Dziak continued her comeback season against Kennesaw State (Nov. 14), adding two points to her 20-point total. The graduate is fifth on the team in scoring, averaging 6.7 ppg. The graduate Panther averaged 4.8 points in 2021-22 and ranks in the top 10 in school history with 105 career 3-pointers.
> Junior post player Alyssa Phillip, who has seen the most time on the court, leads the Panthers squad in rebounds (29), averaging 9.6 per game. The defensive leader is also tied for most blocked shots on the squad with three, which ranks second in the Sun Belt. Phillip averaged 3.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg in the 2022-23 season, but took a step forward at the end of the season, averaging 7.3 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 59 percent from the field for the last four games.
> The Panthers' cast of newcomers includes experienced transfers such as Patience Williams (USF), Mya Williams (Hutchinson C.C.), Erin Turral (Stony Brook), Aniya Palmer (Mississippi State) and Kaleigh Addie (Xavier) as well as promising freshmen like Crystal Henderson (Kell High School), Eghosa Obasuyi (Carrollton) and Aaliyah Hunt (Peachtree Ridge).
SERIES VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN:
Georgia State and Bethune-Cookman, which plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, are matching up for the fourth time in program history. The Panthers are undefeated (4-0) on the series after defeating the Wildcats 62-54 at home on Dec. 21, 2018.
SERIES VS. ELON:
Georgia State and Elon, which plays in the Coastal Athletic Association, are meeting for the second time in program history. The Panthers are 0-1 on the series after falling 84-67 against the Phoenix in the series opener at home on Dec. 22, 2016.
