Georgia State women’s basketball suffered defeat at the hands of the Troy Trojans in Alabama by a final of 88-75. The loss drops the Panthers to 12-15 on the season and 7-11 in the Sun Belt.
The Panthers committed 26 turnovers to 15 for the Trojans. Troy scored 40 of its 88 off Georgia State miscues.
First Half
Despite three Troy turnovers in the first three minutes, the Trojans claimed an early 4-0 lead as senior guard Aissata Maiga and junior guard Ashley Beverly-Kelley each made two point shots. The Panthers got on the board as Makeba Ponder made her first three of the game, closing the gap to 4-3.
Troy embarked on an 11-0 run as senior forward Ronita Garrett led the scoring charge with five points. Beverly-Kelley, senior guard Kourtney Coleman, and sophomore forward Caitlyn Ramirez. Troy would go ahead by a score of 15-3.
Georgia State closed the gap to 15-7 as Morgan Jackson made her first jumper, which came off a Brittany Logan rebound. Logan also contributed two free throws after sophomore forward Kristen Emerson fouled her.
As the Trojans grew their lead to 24-7 Garrett contributed five more points and junior guard Lacey Buchanon made her notched her first four of the game.
Troy maintained its 17-point advantage with scores of 26-9, 28-11 and 30-13. That advantage became 18 at 31-13 as Coleman made one free throw. The Trojans kept their 18- point lead at 33-15.
Georgia State went on a 6-0 run as Logan scored four more points and Haley Gerrin placed in her first two for the game, closing the gap to 33-21.
With the Trojans leading by a score of 35-23, Beverly-Kelley increased her point total to 11 and Maiga grew to four as Troy’s lead grew to 17 at 40-23.
Garrett later would foul Logan who made two free throws, closing the gap to 40-25. Twelve seconds later, Garrett made a free throw after Miranda Smith fouled her. Ramirez’ fifth and sixth points of the game grew the gap to 43-25 as the game reached the halftime period.
Second Half
A few seconds in, Ramirez stole the ball from Ashley Watson leading to a Maiga layup, extending Troy’s lead to 20 at 45-25. Georgia State responded with a 6-0 run with Nichols contributing four points and Ponder scoring two, drawing the Panthers closer at 45-31.
With the score at 47-33, Troy’s ensuing 5-0 run that included two Georgia State turnovers, two more Beverly-Kelley points and a Coleman three extended their lead to 19 again at 52-33. Ponder later scored five straight points, trimming the Panthers’ deficit to 14 again at 52-38.
Troy maintained its 14-point lead with scores of 54-40 and 56-42. The Trojans embarked on an 8-2 run with junior guard Simiah Blount responsible for five of the eight. Junior guard Rachel Reid also made a three with a Ponder layup.
Troy’s lead became 20 at 64-44. The Panthers’ ensuing 8-0 run with Ponder and Watson scoring three each and Ashlee Cole’s layup cut their deficit to 12 at 64-52. Garrett later made a two-point basket, growing Troy’s lead back to 66-52.
The Trojans maintained their 14-point lead with scores of 68-54, 70-56 and 72-58. Ramirez, Maiga and Reid each scored two each later for a 6-0 run and a Troy 20-point, 78-58 advantage.
With the score at 81-61, Garrett fouled Logan who made one of two from the free throw line.
Freshman center Daija Williams later fouled Gaby Moss, who made one of two from the line. Sophomore Troy forward Kristin Emerson’s only two points upped the Trojans lead to 85-63.
Time was winding down, but the Panthers managed an 8-0 run as Ponder and Jackson both made threes and Watson contributed a tipin basket after a missed layup. This trimmed Georgia State’s deficit to 85-71. Ashanti Groover fouled Beverly-Kelley who made both of her free throws as Troy led by a tally of 87-71.
Williams made one of two from the line after Ponder was charged with a foul against her.
Watson increased her point total to 10 and Ponder increased to 23 as the Panthers closed 88-75 before time expired.
The Panthers return Thursday vs. UL-Monroe in the team’s final road game of the regular season.
