In the opening game of the Holiday and Hoops Classic, Georgia State women’s basketball earned a hard˗fought victory over the UMass Minutewomen by a final score of 71˗66 Friday at the Sports Arena.
First Half
In the first half, a Brittany Logan layup gave the Panthers a 2˗0 lead before UMass’ Kim Pierre˗Louis tied the score at two apiece. This followed a jumper from Kayla Nolan to give Georgia State a 4˗2 advantage.
Nolan scored her third and fourth points of the game making the score 6˗2. Pierre˗Louis was then fouled, placing her at the line as she made only one of two free throws.
With the score 6˗3 in favor of Georgia State, before an 8˗2 that included three˗pointers by Gaby Moss and Ashlee Cole upped the Panthers’ advantage to 14˗5, prompting a UMass timeout.
Pierre˗Louis brought Massachusetts within seven at 14˗7 prior to another Logan layup to make the score 16˗7.
With the score 18˗9, the Minutewomen went on a 9˗2 run of their own. Three three˗pointers from Emily Mital brought UMass to 20˗18.
Nolan responded with a three to extend the Georgia State advantage back to five prior to a layup from Massachusetts’ Rashida Timbilla. Makeba Ponder made her first three of the game bringing the score 26˗20 in favor of the Panthers. Two made free throws from Nolan, after being fouled by Amber Dillon, extended the run to 5˗0 and the Georgia State lead to 28˗20.
With the score 30˗22, two more from Timbilla followed Ponder’s second three to make the score 33˗24.
The Panthers maintained their lead at nine with the score 35˗26. Cierra Dillard brought UMass within seven at 35˗28 with two minutes left in the half. Mital nailed her fourth three of the game to bring the Minutewomen within 35˗31 going into the half.
Second Half
Another jumper from Pierre˗Louis before Ponder made another three pointer extended the Panthers’ lead 38˗33.
The score became 40˗35 in favor of Georgia State prior to Timbilla upping her point total to eight bringing the Minutewomen within three at 40˗37.
After two made free throws from Kennesha Nichols after a foul charged to Pierre˗Louis, UMass closed within one with two˗pointers by Dillard and Mital making the score 42˗41.
Georgia State maintained their four point lead at 47˗43. This was prior to Pierre˗Louis increasing her point total 13 cutting their deficit to two.
Moss made a three to extend the Panthers’ lead 50˗45. Ciara Rosten’s first field goal brought Massachusetts within 50˗47.
With just over eleven minutes to play, the Panthers’ lead was 52˗49. Jumpers from Dillard and Nolan brought the tally 54˗51. Logan increased her point total to 12 as the lead became five for Georgia State at 56˗51. Fouls by Nichols and Nolan placed Dillard and Pierre˗Louis at the line.
Dillard made one of two foul shots, while Pierre˗Louis made both of her free throws bringing the Minutewomen within two at 56˗54.
After Cole only made one of two free throws after a foul by Dillard, the score became 57˗54.
The scoreboard read 59˗56 in favor of Georgia State. With under four minutes to play, Dillard nailed a three to tie the game at 59. Logan responded with a layup, allowing the Panthers to retake the lead at 61˗59.
UMass took their first lead of the game via another Dillard three to make the score 62˗61. Ponder responded with one of her own to make the score 64˗62 in favor of the Panthers.
Pierre˗Louis fouled Haley Gerrin with under two minutes to play. Gerrin made one of two free throws for a 65˗62 score. That became 67˗62 as Logan scored her 15 and 16 point of the game.
Gerrin fouled Timbilla as she converted a jumper into a pair of points, but could not make her ensuing free throw attempt with 49 seconds remaining. With 27 seconds to go, Timbilla was fouled by Nolan as she made a layup. This made the score 67˗66, but with a chance to tie the game, she missed the free throw attempt. UMass got the rebound, but then was called for a travel.
The following inbound attempt for the Panthers resulted in a foul by Dillard on Ponder, who made both free throws to make the score 69˗66. The following inbound attempt by the Minutemen resulted in a steal by Nolan, who made both free throws making the score 71˗66, which would be the final score.
The Panthers’ next game will be today at the Sports Arena as they conclude the Holiday & Hoops Classic against LaSalle at 6 p.m.
| Georgia State | UMass |
|---|---|
| Nolan: 17 points, 6˗10 shooting | Ponder: 17 points, 5˗9 three pointers |
| Pierre˗Louis: 17 points, 6˗13 shooting | Dillard: 15 points, 5˗16 shooting |
