The first half was promising, the second half was anything but for Georgia State women’s basketball in its 56-39 loss to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock [UALR] Trojans Thursday. The defeat drops the Panthers to 12-14 overall and 7-10 vs. Sun Belt opponents.
First Half
Georgia State and UALR would trade the game’s first four points. Ashley Watson landed the Panthers on the board first after a layup from senior Trojans forward Kiera Clark, tying the game at two.
With the score tied up at four, Clark scored four consecutive points, and increasing the UALR lead to 8-4.
The Trojans maintained their four-point advantage at 10-6 prior to Brittany Logan fouling senior guard Taylor Gault, who made one of two from the line, expanding the UALR lead to 11-6. Sophomore guard Sharde’ Collins later made a jump shot, upping the Trojans’ lead to 13-6.
The Panthers closed their deficit at 13-11 with Makeba Ponder’s first three of the game and Logan grabbing an offensive rebound, then scoring her first two points.
With UALR in front 15-13, Logan made a free throw after being fouled by Collins and making a layup. Later, sophomore forward Keanna Keys fouled Logan, placing her at the line for two successful free throws as Georgia State took an 18-17 lead. That became 20-17 after Morgan Jackson scored her first two points of the game.
The Trojans responded with an 8-0, including Clark increasing her point total to eight and Collins as well as junior guard Alexius Dawn hitting threes, producing a 25-20 score for UALR.
Watson later converted on a layup, bringing Georgia State within three at 25-22. Gault increased her point output to five with a three, bringing forth a 28-22 lead for UALR.
With the Trojans ahead by six at 30-24, Watson made a pair of free throws after Keys was charged with a foul. Dawn hit another three, increasing the UALR lead to 33-26. The Panthers closed the gap at 33-31 at the half with another Ponder three and Haley Gerrin scoring her only two points of the game.
Second Half
UALR began the second half with a 9-0 run with two Gault three-pointers and a Clark jumper to up their lead to 40-31.
The ensuing six minutes would see the Panthers answer with a 6-0 run, with Logan, Watson and Ashlee Cole each scoring two points each. Georgia State trailed by a score of 40-37.
Collins would later make a layup, expanding the lead for UALR to 42-37 before Cole made a free throw charged to Clark, drawing the Panthers closer at 42-38.
An 11-0 run by the Trojans that saw five Dawn points, four for Clark and two for Collins made it a 53-38 game.
Watson later made one of two free throws, making it a 53-39 game. Senior UALR guard Ka’Nesheia Cobbins made one free throw and Dawn made a pair, giving the Trojans a 56-39 win on their way to a win over the Panthers.
Georgia State will return to the court Saturday as the road trip continues at 3 p.m. vs. Troy.
| Georgia State | UALR |
|---|---|
| Watson: 13 points | Logan: 11 points, six rebounds |
| Clark: 16 points, eight rebounds | SDawn: 13 points |
