ATLANTA -- Transfer Eden Johnson scored a team-first double-double in the Panthers' 79-57 win over Berry on Sunday afternoon.
"Always good to get a win, especially the first of the season and at home," head coach Gene Hill said. " Really excited about the team's30 field-goals and18 assists. We've been trying to get some more movement, and i feel like we really did that today."
The Panthers (1-2) had three players score in double figures, led by Kaleigh Addie, who had 22 points. Crystal Henderson tacked on 16 points, five assists and eight steals and Eden Johnson chipped in as well with a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Georgia State offense was very productive from downtown, pouring in 10 threes on 32 attempts. Eghosa Obasuyi was the most prolific shooter for the Panthers, draining three treys in the contest.
The Georgia State defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Sunday's game, forcing 26 Berry turnovers while committing nine. Those takeaways turned into 27 points on the offensive end of the floor. Henderson's eight steals led the way individually for the Panthers.
How It Happened
After falling behind 12-6, Georgia State went on a 6-0 run with 2:09 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Mahogany Matthews, to tie the game at 12. Berry then pulled ahead, sending the Panthers into the second quarter down 15-12.
Georgia State then started off the second quarter by going on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Addie, to take a 17-15 lead. The Vikings cut into that lead, but the Panthers still enjoyed a 33-32 advantage heading into halftime. Georgia State was strong from deep in the period, knocking down four three-point shots to account for 12 of its 21 points.
Following intermission, Georgia State continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 49-38 before going on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Addie, to expand its lead further to 59-38 with 2:18 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Vikings had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Panthers still entered the fourth quarter with a 61-44 edge. Georgia State played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 28 points in the paint.
Georgia State kept widening that lead, expanding it to 69-51 before going on an 8-0 run to grow the lead to 77-51 with 3:18 to go in the contest. The Vikings narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Panthers still cruised the rest of the way for the 79-57 win. Georgia State fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 18 points.
Game Notes
» Cystal Henderson recorded the third-most single-game steals in program history with eight
» Georgia State had 17 fewer turnovers than Berry
» Eden Johnson notched a double-double for the Panthers with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
» Georgia State lit it up from three point land, knocking down 10 treys in the game.
» Georgia State never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Georgia State recorded 18 total assists in the game.
» The Panthers forced 26 Berry turnovers while committing only nine on the other end.
» Crystal Henderson swiped eight steals for the Panthers in the game.
» The Georgia State defense forced 26 turnovers.
» Georgia State turned the ball over nine times while dishing out 18 assists.
» Georgia State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
» Kaleigh Addie led the Panthers with a game-high 22 points.
» Georgia State got a game-high 11 rebounds from Eden Johnson.
Tha Panthers are back in action at Georgia on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
