Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Game 1 vs. Oglethorpe: Monday, Nov. 3 @ 6:30 p.m.
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ATLANTA – The Georgia State women's basketball team (0-0, SBC 0-0) kick-start their 2025-26 campaign with a home opener against the Oglethorpe Petrels (0-0, SAA 0-0). The Panthers are set to take the court on Monday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 p.m., inside the GSU Convocation Center.
SERIES HISTORY
This marks the first-ever meeting between the Panthers and the Petrels.
BETWEEN THE LINES
Oglethorpe enters the 2025-26 season coming off a strong 2024–25 campaign that saw the Stormy Petrels post a 15–12 overall record and a 5–7 mark in Southern Athletic Association (SAA) play. After opening the year with an impressive 6–2 start, Oglethorpe battled through a competitive conference slate that featured narrow road losses and several high-scoring affairs. Oglethorpe capped the season with a conference tournament win over Rhodes before narrowly falling to Millsaps in the second round.
CRYSTAL CLEAR
Junior leader Crystal Henderson was named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team following a stellar 2024-25 campaign. Henderson started all 33 games for the Panthers, leading the team in assists (128, 3.9 pg), steals (79, 2.4 pg), minutes played (1,163, 35.2 pg), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.42). She finished second on the team in scoring with 379 points (11.5 ppg) and recorded 20 double-digit games, including four 20+ point performances. Henderson led the Sun Belt in minutes per game, ranked second in the conference in steals and steals per game, and finished fourth in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Henderson was also named 2023-24 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year after leading all Sun Belt freshmen in scoring, steals and assists, and finishing top five in assists among all freshmen in the NCAA during the 2023-24 season. Henderson's honors marked the third Freshman of the Year honors in program history, and the first since the 2016-17 season.
SUN BELT DOMINANCE
The Panthers set the tone defensively last season, leading the league in steals per game (11.5) to rank 15th nationally. They also finished second in the Sun Belt in blocks (4.6 per game), placing among the NCAA's top 25, and third in field-goal percentage defense (39.1%), proving to be one of the toughest defensive squads in the conference.
FRESH FACES
Georgia State welcomes six new faces to the roster for 2025-26, including two freshmen and four transfers ready to make an impact. Freshmen Savannah Robinson-Holmes and Grace Lanier bring youthful energy and potential, while transfers Ana Luiza Ramos Pires (Garden City CC), Nari Powers (Salt Lake CC), Ari Dyson (Trinity Valley CC), and ACC Power Four standout Gabbie Grooms brings collegiate experience and depth to bolster the Panthers' lineup.
SO INTERNATIONAL
Georgia State's roster features international flare with Finland native Monna Julkunen and Ana Luiza Ramos Pires from São Paulo, Brazil. A returning sophomore, Julkunen brings experience in Blue and White after appearing in 24 games last season. Pires joins the Panthers as a transfer from Garden City Community College, where she started nearly every game over two seasons.
HOLLOMAN HONORS
Graduate student Cheyenne Holloman was named a 2026 Kay Yow Servant Leader Award recipient, recognizing her dedication to service and leadership beyond the court. Presented by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, the award honors collegiate athletes who exemplify the values of legendary NC State coach Kay Yow, whose legacy continues through the fund's mission to advance cancer research and support women impacted by the disease.
For the latest updates on the season, including ticket information and game details, please visit www.georgiastatesports.com and follow us on social media @gsu_wbasketball.
