Gaby Moss scores 18 points in Panthers’ win over Jaguars

On Thursday night at the Sports Arena, Georgia State women’s basketball earned its third victory with a 69-54 win over the South Alabama Jaguars. The victory improves the Panthers’ record to 11-13 on the year and 6-9 in the Sun Belt.

First Half

Senior guard Breanna Hall gave the Jaguars their first points of the game with a two-point jump shot before Georgia State answered with a 7-0 run going ahead by a score of 7-2.

Four consecutive points from Hall gave South Alabama one at 7-6 before Moss upped her early point total to seven as the Panthers assumed a 9-6 lead.

With the score at 11-8, two points by Andrews along with four from Haley Gerrin contributed to a 6-0 Georgia State run, increasing the lead to 17-8 and prompting a South Alabama timeout.

The Panthers maintained their 11-point lead at 23-12 before a jump shot by freshman guard Marquita Daniels gave South Alabama nine at 23-14. A three-point shot by Andrews along with two more points from Moss and a made free throw by Ashley Watson after a foul by Daniels gave Georgia State a 29-14 lead.

With the score at 31-16 in the Panthers’ favor with 2:26 left in the half, a three by redshirt junior guard Juliann Miller and a two-pointer by Ellis made it a 10-point game at 31-21. Georgia State responded with another three by Moss, increasing their lead to 13 before Hall placed in a layup on the next South Alabama possession. Georgia State had a 34-23 lead going into the half.

Second Half

Early in the second half, a block of Nichols by Ellis led to a layup by junior guard Rachel Cumbo. Georgia State answered with two more points each by Moss and Watson as their lead became 38-25. Hall then placed in a three, trimming the Jaguars’ deficit to 10 at 38-28.

With the Panthers leading by a tally of 40-30, Ponder was fouled by Cumbo while attempting a three-point shot. She then made three from the foul line, increasing Georgia State’s lead to 43-30.

Georgia State maintained its 13-point advantage with leads of 45-32, 47-34, and 49-36 prior to a made two-pointer by LaNeetra Guillory. After two scoreless minutes, a three-point shot by Morgan Jackson gave Georgia State a 52-38 lead.

The Panthers maintained their fourteen-point advantage with leads of 54-40, 56-42, 58-44 and 60-46 before six more points from Hall and five more by Ellis drew South Alabama within six at 60-54. Georgia State closed the game on a 9-0 run that included seven from Ponder, and free throws by Andrews and Gerrin on their way to victory by a final of 69-54.

Georgia State will take to the court at noon on Saturday from the Sports Arena against Appalachian State.

Final Stats
Georgia State South Alabama
Moss: 18 points, 8-12 shooting Andrews: 14 points
Hall: 26 points, 9-13 shooting Ellis: 15 points, 7-12 shooting