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Panthers Renew Cross-Town Rivalry at Georgia Tech Sunday

11/14/2026 9:45:00 AM

Tip-Off
Georgia State (1-3) at Georgia Tech (3-1)
Sunday, Nov. 14 | 2 p.m.
McCamish Pavilion | Atlanta, Ga.

ATLANTA — Georgia State will look to carry the momentum of its first victory of the season into one of its biggest non-conference challenges Sunday afternoon when the Panthers travel across town to face Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. inside McCamish Pavilion.

Sunday's contest marks the 44th meeting between the two Atlanta programs and the first since the 2024-25 season. Georgia Tech enters the matchup leading the all-time series 32-11, though Georgia State owns 22 victories over current Atlantic Coast Conference opponents, including 11 against the Yellow Jackets. The Panthers' most recent win over an ACC opponent came in 2023 when they defeated Clemson 78-72.

Georgia State (1-3) enters the rivalry matchup coming off its most complete performance of the season, an 84-41 victory over Toccoa Falls that delivered the first win of the Marcilina Grayer era. The Panthers forced 27 turnovers, recorded 21 steals and placed four players in double figures while shooting a season-best 50.7 percent from the floor.

While the record may not fully reflect it, Georgia State has shown steady progress throughout the opening weeks of the season. Two of the Panthers' three losses have come by a combined five points, and Georgia State has erased second-half deficits in each of its last two games while holding fourth-quarter leads against both Buffalo and Wofford.

The Panthers have quickly established themselves as one of the nation's most disruptive defensive teams. Entering Sunday's game, Georgia State ranks No. 20 nationally in steals per game (16.3), No. 31 in turnover margin (+10.5) and No. 47 in turnovers forced per game (23.5). The Panthers have also committed just 13.0 turnovers per contest, the best mark in the Sun Belt Conference.

Sophomore guard Grace Lanier has led the charge, averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game while ranking among the nation's leaders in steals with 19 through four contests. Lanier opened the season with a 32-point performance at Buffalo and currently ranks second in the Sun Belt in steals and fifth in scoring.

Georgia State has also received strong contributions from its newcomers. Junior Kenaya Klintman is coming off a 17-point, nine-rebound effort against Toccoa Falls, while senior Ana Oliveira Dias ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in both assists and steals. Aaliyah Baldwin currently ranks third in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio and has helped direct an offense averaging 15.8 assists per game.

Georgia Tech (3-1) enters the contest after an 89-58 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore and is led by All-ACC performer Talayah Walker, who is averaging 21.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the floor. Walker was recently named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List.

For Georgia State, Sunday's matchup provides another opportunity to measure the program's early progress against one of the region's premier opponents. After showing resilience in close losses and dominance in Wednesday's breakthrough victory, the Panthers will try to carry their defensive pressure and growing confidence into the cross-town rivalry.

By The Numbers

22 — Georgia State victories against current ACC members.
21 — Steals recorded by the Panthers against Toccoa Falls, tied for the seventh-most in program history.
16.3 — Steals per game, ranking Georgia State among the nation's top teams.
10.5 — Turnover margin, second-best in the Sun Belt Conference.
44 — All-time meetings between Georgia State and Georgia Tech.

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