Red Wolves free throws had Georgia State women’s basketball seeing red as the Panthers were defeated by Arkansas State on the road by a final of 76-65. The loss brings Georgia State’s record to 8-9 and 3-5 in Sun Belt play.
First Half
The Red Wolves scored early and often in the first few minutes as they began this contest with a 7-0 run that included a three by junior guard Khadija Brown-Haywood. Arkansas State also got two points each early from redshirt junior guard Aundrea Gamble and redshirt senior guard Hanna Qedan.
Georgia State answered with a 12-0 run that included a pair of three-pointers from Alisha Andrews, and four points from Brittany Logan. A jumper from Miranda Smith boosted Georgia State ahead by 12-7.
The Panthers briefly maintained their early five-point advantage at 14-9. Sophomore guard Jamie Ruffins along with Gamble each placed in layups bringing the Red Wolves within one at 14-13.
Three points by Kayla Nolan plus a three by Makeba Ponder extended the Georgia State lead back to 20-13. Senior forward Jasmine Hunt placed in a layup to bring Arkansas State within five at 20-15, but Andrews’ third three of the game made it an eight-point game as the Panthers’ lead became 23-15.
Two more from Ponder gave Georgia State a 25-15 lead. A three from Gamble plus five more by Brown-Haywood equaled an 8-0 run and the shrinking of the Panthers’ lead to 25-23.
Georgia State responded with another 8-0 run with two each from Logan, Smith, Haley Gerrin and Kennesha Nichols making the score 33-23. Brown-Haywood then made a three bringing the Red Wolves within a 33-26 score.
Nichols’ third and fourth points gave the Panthers a 35-26 advantage. Another three by Brown-Haywood got Arkansas State within six at 35-29.
The Panthers’ lead would be eight at the half as Nichols upped her point output to six for a score of 37-29.
Second Half
Arkansas State opened the second frame with a 9-2 run as they got six more points from Qedan, a layup by Brown-Haywood and a made free throw by Hunt. The only Georgia State points in that sequence came courtesy of a two-pointer by Ponder as the Red Wolves closed to within 39-38.
With the score at 41-40 in the Panthers’ favor, another three by Andrews extended the Georgia State lead to 44-40, but a layup by Gamble made it 44-42. Andrews placed in another two points to give the Panthers a 46-42 lead before a 12-0 Red Wolves scoring streak. Redshirt junior Amanda Lawson scored six, Hunt added four points and Gamble scored two as the Red Wolves led by eight at 54-46.
Arkansas State maintained its eight-point advantage with leads of 56-48 and 58-50. It then grew to 60-50 as Qedan made a pair of free throws after being fouled by Nichols.
With the scoreboard reading 62-52 in the Red Wolves’ favor after a Gamble layup that included her being fouled by Andrews, she made the following free throw to make it a 63-52 contest.
A two-point jumper by Nichols and a three from Ponder allowed the Panthers to pull within 63-57. A layup and made free throw by Hunt after being fouled by Logan extended the Arkansas State lead back to nine at 66-57.
Ponder’s 11th and 12th points made it a 66-59 game. Two points each by Qedan and Lawson expanded the Red Wolves’ lead to 70-59.
With the score at 72-61, another three by Ponder brought Georgia State within eight at 72-64. But with around a minute left and needing to foul, Nolan fouled Ruffins who made both of her free throws making the lead ten again for Arkansas State with the score reading 74-64.
With under a minute to play, Logan was fouled by Brown-Haywood, then made one out of two from the free throw line. Gamble and Hunt would both make one of two from the line as the Red Wolves assumed a lead and final score of 76-65.
The Panthers will return to the hardwood on Saturday at the Sports Arena as they face Louisiana-Lafayette at noon.
| Georgia State | Arkansas State |
|---|---|
| Andrews: 18 points, 7-12 field goals | Ponder: 15 points |
| Gamble: 21 points, 8-19 field goals | Brown-Haywood: 18 points, 7-9 field goals |
