ATLANTA – The Georgia State Panthers capped senior night with a 74-68 victory over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns on Friday evening inside the GSU Convocation Center.
Georgia State forced 23 turnovers and turned those takeaways into 15 points, while committing just eight miscues of their own.
The Panthers placed three players in double figures, led by Grace Lanier, who poured in 23 points to go with four assists and four steals. Crystal Henderson added 12 points, eight assists, and two steals, while Cheyenne Holloman contributed a near double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds, and four steals.
On the glass, the Panthers collected 15 offensive rebounds that led to 10 second-chance points. Gabbie Grooms sparked that effort with three offensive boards, helping Georgia State control key possessions down the stretch and seal the Senior Night victory.
How It Happened
Georgia State set the tone early, building a 20-15 advantage after the opening quarter behind a sharp performance from beyond the arc, connecting on three treys to account for nine of its 20 points.
Louisiana briefly edged ahead 21-20 in the second quarter, but the Georgia State Panthers responded with an 8-0 surge midway through the period to regain control at 28-21. The Ragin' Cajuns trimmed the margin late, sending Georgia State into halftime with a narrow 28-27 lead after the Panthers knocked down a pair of threes in the quarter.
Out of the break, Georgia State continued to press, extending the lead to 36-31 before rattling off a 6-0 run to push the advantage to 42-31 with just over six minutes remaining in the third. Although the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns clawed back late in the frame, the Panthers carried a 48-44 edge into the final quarter, fueled by four three-pointers that produced 12 of their 20 third-quarter points.
Louisiana opened the fourth by tying the game at 50-50, but Georgia State answered with a decisive 14-0 run to seize a 64-50 cushion with 4:46 remaining. The Ragin' Cajuns made a late push, but the Panthers stayed composed down the stretch to secure the 74-68 victory.
Game Notes
» Georgia State lit it up from three point zone, knocking down 11 treys in the game.
» The Panthers put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 74 percent of made field goals.
» The Panthers forced 23 Louisiana turnovers while committing only eight on the other end.
» Georgia State dished out 17 assists.
» Georgia State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
» Grace Lanier led the Panthers with a game-high 23 points.
» Georgia State got a team-high nine rebounds from Cheyenne Holloman.
Up Next
Georgia State is set to compete the Sun Belt Championship tournament in Pensacola, Fla, starting Tuesday, March 3.
