For Georgia State’s women’s basketball team, their opening match-up in the Thanksgiving Tournament at the Sports Arena was not close –they defeated Georgia Southern by a final score of 73-48.
Georgia State was in control throughout the first half in most aspects of the game. Their scoring attack was more balanced than Georgia Southern’s and outrebounded them 27 to 18 with a lot of help from their bench.
Cody Paulk, one of the most productive Panthers in the first half, scored nine points and got eight rebounds for Georgia State.
For Georgia Southern, Anna Claire-Knight had 10 points, including going six-for-six from the free-throw line. No one else at the end of the first half had more than three.
The second half would see Georgia Southern start on a ten-to-four run that would cut Georgia State’s lead to as low as 10.
That wouldn’t last long, though.
Georgia State extended their lead to as high as their eventual margin of victory—twenty five. Paulk would finish with a double-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocked shots. Kayla Nolan and Ashlee Cole also would have double-digit scoring outings off the bench.
For Georgia Southern, Knight also had a double-double as she scored 20 points, 11 rebounds and was eight-for-eight from the foul line.
On Saturday, Nov. 24 the Panthers will face Florida A&M in the tournament’s final at 4 p.m., while Georgia Southern will play the consolation game against Kent State at 2 p.m. All games will be held in the Sports Arena.
