ATLANTA, GA – Georgia State (1-0, SBC 0-0) opened the season in historic fashion Monday night, defeating Oglethorpe (0-1, SAA 0-0) 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.  

"I'm really proud of how our ladies came out and played today," said Head Coach Gene Hill. "We dictated the tempo, executed the style we've been working on, and rebounded as a unit, which is very important for us. Every game will be tough, but I'm excited about how we started off today. 

Five Panthers scored in double figures, led by Crystal Henderson with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Kaleigh Addie added 15 points and three steals, while Savannah Robinson-Holmes came off the bench to contribute 14 points and four steals. 

The Panthers dominated the glass with a 50-38 rebounding advantage, highlighted by Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu's game-high 11 boards. Georgia State pulled down 22 offensive rebounds, converting them into 19 second-chance points.

Defensively, GSU limited Oglethorpe to just 35.8 percent shooting from the field and 23.8 percent from three-point range. The Stormy Petrels managed only seven offensive rebounds and six second-chance points, while the Panthers collected 28 defensive boards to seal the win.

How It Happened

Georgia State jumped out to a 16-13 advantage early before going on a 9-0 run with 3:46 remaining in the first quarter, capped by a basket from Kaleigh Addie, to push the lead to 25-13. The Panthers gave up a bit of ground late in the period but still entered the quarter break with a 28-18 advantage. Georgia State did most of its first-quarter damage in the paint, scoring 16 of its 28 points near the rim.

The Panthers carried that momentum into the second quarter, extending their lead to 37-25 before putting together a 6-0 run starting at the 4:46 mark. The spurt was highlighted by a three-pointer from Gabbie Grooms, stretching the advantage to 43-25. Oglethorpe managed to trim the deficit slightly, but Georgia State still held a comfortable 50-33 lead at halftime. The Panthers were efficient from deep in the frame, connecting on three triples to account for nine of their 22 second-quarter points.

After the break, Georgia State continued to control the pace. The Panthers pushed the lead to 59-41 before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Crystal Henderson, to make it 66-41 with 2:34 remaining in the third. GSU added eight more points before the end of the quarter to take a 79-46 lead into the final period. Once again, the Panthers dominated inside, scoring 16 of their 29 third-quarter points in the paint.

Georgia State kept its foot on the gas in the fourth, widening the lead to 95-57 before an 11-0 run, finished off by a Savannah Robinson-Holmes layup, stretching the advantage to 106-57 with 1:17 left to play. The Panthers closed out the 108-59 victory, hitting four three-pointers in the final frame to account for 12 of their 29 points and seal one of the top offensive performances in program history.

Game Notes

• Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu notched a double-double for the Panthers with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• Georgia State found success from beyond the arc, knocking down 10 treys in the game.
• The Panthers held the Stormy Petrels to only 35.8 percent shooting from the field.
• The Panthers never trailed after taking a 28-18 first quarter lead.
• Georgia State tallied 23 total assists in the game.
• The Georgia State bench came alive by scoring 40 points to its scoring output.
• Five Georgia State players scored 10 or more points.
• Savannah Robinson-Holmes and Grace Lanier came off the bench to score 14 and 13 points.
• The Panthers turned 33 turnovers into 38 points on the offensive end.
• The Panthers forced 33 Oglethorpe turnovers while committing only 11 on the other end.
• Georgia State had a 50-38 edge on the boards in the win.
• Georgia State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 22 offensive boards in the game.
• Crystal Henderson led the Panthers with a game-high 24 points.

Up Next
The Panthers travel to Starkville, Mississippi, to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 7, at 12 p.m.