ATHENS, GA -- For the first time since 1982, Georgia State women's basketball upset Georgia 66-60 in Stegeman Coliseum on Thursday night.
"Really proud of my players tonight," head coach Gene Hill said. " We've been talking about continuing to stack games and work on getting better each game, I think a win like this is proof of that."
The Panthers' win over Georgia marks the first win in 17 contests, dating back to 1982, and breaks the Bulldog's undefeated streak this season.
Mikyla Tolivert and Crystal Henderson combined to score 40 points in the win. Tolivert led the team with 23 points, including four three-pointers. Henderson followed up with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds. Mya Williams helped out with 14 points, including three three-pointers, and two steals.
The Panthers put up 12 3-pointers against the Bulldogs to put up the second-most treys in a single game in program history.
The Georgia State offense made hay from downtown, knocking down 12 threes on 33 attempts. Henderson hit five treys for the Panthers in the contest.
The Georgia State defense was a problem in Thursday's game, forcing 19 Georgia turnovers while committing 11. Those takeaways turned into 21 points on the offensive end of the floor. Henderson's three steals led the way individually for the Panthers.
How It Happened
After playing to a 3-3 tie early in the game, Georgia State went on a 10-0 run with 8:42 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Tolivert, to take a 13-3 lead. The Panthers then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 17-10 advantage. Georgia State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 17 points.
Georgia State kept its first quarter lead intact before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 9:26 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Williams, to increase its lead to 25-12. The Bulldogs cut into that lead, but the Panthers still enjoyed a 34-33 advantage heading into halftime. Georgia State was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 17 points.
Georgia State surrendered its halftime lead until, with the game tied at 42-42 they went on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Mahogany Matthews, to grab a 47-42 lead with 42 seconds to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Panthers added one point to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 50-44 edge. Georgia State played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 16 points in the paint.
Georgia proceeded to take a 58-57 lead before Georgia State went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Henderson's three, to seize a 63-58 lead with 1:48 to go in the contest. The Panthers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 66-60 win. Georgia State fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 16 points.
Game Notes
» Georgia State found success from three point land, knocking down 12 treys in the game.
» The Panthers held the Bulldogs to only 36.7 percent shooting from the field.
» Mikyla Tolivert, Crystal Henderson, and Mya Williams combined to account for 82 percent of the Panthers points.
» The Georgia State defense forced 19 turnovers.
» Mikyla Tolivert led the Panthers with a game-high 23 points.
» Georgia State got five rebounds from both Eden Johnson and Patience Williams.
