ATLANTA-- After falling in the conference opener, the Panthers look to bounce back at Texas State on Thursday, January 2 at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Strahan Arena at the University Events Center.
Georgia State and Texas State are meeting for the 17th time in program history. The Panthers are 5-11 on the series after defeating the Bobcats 64-55 on Jan. 6, 2024.
TOP STORY LINES:
>The Panthers defeated Sewanee 107-49 to mark one of the largest margins of victory in program history (9th in program history).
> Georgia State opened the season with three Power 5 opponents, including Georgia Tech, Georgia and Alabama. Its season was highlighted by a 66-60 upset over Georgia.
STATE IN THE SUN BELT:
> Led by Mikyla Tolivert, The Panthers lead the conference in overall free throw percentage (74.4).
> The Panthers lead the Sun Belt in blocks per-game, averaging 4.1 pg. Mahogany Matthews, who leads the Panthers in blocks, also leads the conference and ranks top 20 in the nation for total blocks (20th/27) and blocks per-game (18th/ 2.25).
> Led by Mya Williams, the Panthers rank fourth in the conference in three-pointers per game (7.5).
> The Panthers also rank top five in the Sun Belt for assist/turnover ratio (2nd/ 0.92), steals pg (3rd/ 10.1), three-point percentage (6th/ 35.1) and turnovers forced per-game (5th/ 19.0).
TRACKING THE RECORD:
> Tolivert hit the record book in numerous occasions during the 2023-24 season, ranking third overall in program history for career free-throw percentage (80.7). She entered the single-game records five times last season; twice for single-game points, twice for single game free-throws made and once for single-game assists.
> Transfer Mya Williams totaled 56 three-pointers last season to take the sixth overall spot in program history for single-season three pointers.
BIG TWO: Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Guard Miklya Tolivert is the Panthers' leading scorer with 13.8 ppg.
> Her 80.5 free-throw percentage leads the team and ranks third overall in the Sun Belt.
> Tolivert averages 3.4 rpg, 2.3 assists per-game and 21 steals. She has the second-most steals on the team.
CRYSTAL CLEAR: Sophomore leader Crystal Henderson, named to the 2024 preseason All-Sun Belt First Team, is third on the Panthers' leaderboard with 9.7 ppg,. She leads the team in assists (51) and steals (29). Henderson averages 2.5 rpg.
> Henderson leads the team in three-point percentage (43.3) after going 13-30 from deep.
> Henderson is second in the Sun Belt for total assists, and is third in the conference for assists per-game (4.3). She is also second in the conference with a 2.14 assist/turnover ratio. She also ranks third in the conference for steals and steals per game (29 total/2.42 pg). She has played the most minutes out of all Sun Belt players.
SHARP SHOOTERS:
> Junior guard Kaleigh Addie is second on the Panthers squad in field-goal accuracy, averaging 46.2 percent from the field.
> Addie is second on the Panthers' leaderboard with 10.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg and 1.09 apg.
> Senior Mya Williams continues to lead the Panthers' squad in three-pointers made through another year, totaling 20 made and averaging 36.4 percent from deep.
> The senior guard is fourth on the Panthers' leaderboard with 9.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg and seven assists.
THE BIGS: The Panthers' roster consists of four promising forwards for the 2024 season, including graduate transfers Eden Johnson and Mahogany Matthews, as well as returners Patience Williams and Aaliyah Hunt.
> Graduate transfer Mahogany Matthews leads the team and Sun Belt, and is 20th in the nation, for blocks with 27. Her 2.25 blocks per-game also leads th conference and ranks 18th in the nation.
> Matthews also leads the team in free-throw accuracy, averaging 46.8 from the field.
> Matthews averages 8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 13 assists.
> In her second year at Georgia State, Patience Williams leads the Panthers in rebounding, averaging 6.0 rpg. She averages 4.0 ppg and totals 10 assists.
> Williams has a perfect free-throw average after going 8-8 at the line.
> Graduate transfer Eden Johnson is the Panthers' second-leading rebounder, averaging 4.8 rpg.
> The veteran forward averages 3.9 ppg and has nine assists on the season.
The Panthers take a pit-stop at Louisiana on Jan. 4 before returning home to face rivals Georgia Southern on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
