Location: Auburn, Ala.
Game 5 vs. Auburn: Monday, Nov. 17 @ 7 p.m. ET
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ATLANTA – The Georgia State women's basketball team (2-2, SBC 0-0) furthers its road stretch to Auburn, Ala., to battle the Auburn Tigers (4-0, SEC 0-0) for the first time since 1987. Tipoff is set for Monday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in Neville Arena.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series between Georgia State and Auburn is tied 7-7, with both programs trading stretches of momentum across more than a decade of matchups. This will be the first meeting between the programs in almost four decades. The rivalry began during the 1975-76 season, where the teams split two meetings with Auburn taking the opener 50-34 in Auburn before Georgia State responded with a 70-60 victory at home. That momentum carried into the late 1970s, as Georgia State put together a dominant six-game winning streak from 1977-80. Auburn regained control beginning in the early 1980s, winning the last five recorded meetings between the programs. The most recent matchup came on Dec. 5, 1987, in Auburn, where Auburn claimed a 110-52 win.
BETWEEN THE LINES
The Auburn Tigers enter Monday night's game with a dominant 4-0 record, their best start since the 2016-17 season. The Tigers look to continue their four-game win streak from controlling victories over Charlotte, Alabama State, UNC-Greensboro and Mississippi Valley State.
The Tigers are led by Head Coach Larry Vickers in his first season at Auburn. With Vickers, the Tigers are facing an almost complete rebuild with only two returning players from the 24-25 season and 10 new players, including eight transfers and two freshmen. Redshirt-junior transfer from Texas State, Ja'Mia Harris leads the Tigers with 13.8 points per game. The 6-9 redshirt freshman transfer from Central Florida, Arek Angui, has also made an immediate impact for the Tigers, averaging 7.7 rebounds per game.
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 have asserted early dominance in Sun Belt play through the opening stretch of the 2025-26 season. Georgia State ranks first in the conference in steals per game (16.8) and free throws made per game (17.5). The Panthers are also ranked third in the conference for scoring offense (83.5). All over the court, Crystal Henderson continues to lead the Panthers, ranked first in the conference for points (75) and second for field goals (27), assists (21) and steals (13). Henderson is also ranked fourth in the conference for assists per game (5.3) and fifth for steals per game (3.25). Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu also holds strong numbers in the conference, bumping up to first for free throws (25), third for double-doubles (1), fourth for rebounds (30) and fifth for points (60).
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.
HISTORIC SEASON OPENER
Georgia State opened the season in historic fashion Monday night, defeating Oglethorpe 108-59 at the GSU Convocation Center. The performance ranked third all-time in GSU history for both steals (26) and points (108) in a single game, marking one of the most dominant outings in program history.
SINCE '08
Crystal Henderson lit up the court in Georgia State's season opener against Oglethorpe, pouring in 24 points. That performance marks the first time since 2008 that a player has scored 24 or more points in a GSU season opener.
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.
