Georgia State women’s basketball started the season on the right foot when they defeated the Montevallo Falcons by a final score of 99˗60 on Thursday night at the Sports Arena.
The game saw several Panthers in double˗digits for points, including freshman guard Makeba Ponder who finished her Georgia State debut with 22.
Early in the first half, the Falcons started off strong by way of an 11˗3 run that included three consecutive made three˗point shots. Two of the shots from downtown came by way of junior guard Katherine Goldsby.
The Panthers would go on a 10˗2 that would see them tie the game at 13 as the half continued.
Both Montevallo and Georgia State went cold as open looks for both teams were not falling through the net.
The game would remain close with both teams within a few points of each other, as the half continued.
The Panthers would pull ahead of the Falcons by a score of 30˗26 as the Georgia State scoring attack was led by freshman Makeba Ponder, who had seven points with six minutes to go in the half.
The opening half would end with the Panthers leading 46˗35. Twelve of the 46 Georgia State points came courtesy of Ponder along with four rebounds. Ashlee Cole also provided six points and four rebounds off the bench.
Montevallo would get eight points each from Goldsby and Jacquelyn Thompson. Goldsby also provided five rebounds to aid their effort.
Georgia State would begin the second half with a 12˗5 run as the lead expanded to 58˗41 with over fifteen minutes remaining in the second half.
Midway through the period, the Panthers would get substantial production from center Brittany Logan who scored eight points as they maintained their advantage at 69˗54.
With over five minutes left and the Panthers maintaining a comfortable 78˗56 lead, Falcons guard D’Miyah Foster was injured on a play that saw Kayla Nolan fouled. Foster was seen on the Falcons’ bench with tape around her left ankle later in the game.
It was also in the second half where Georgia State appeared to pick up its intensity on defense as the lead only grew. Ultimately, the game would end with the Panthers prevailing by 39 points.
Ashlee Cole who had 12 off the bench. Nolan, Logan, and Kennesha Nichols had 14, 12, and 10 points respectively. Alisha Andrews also had nine assists.
For the Falcons, Thompson finished with 15 points and made three out of seven from behind the three˗point arc. Goldsby also finished with 12.
The regular season will begin for the Panthers on Nov. 15 as they take to the road to face University of North Florida (UNF).
