Box Score - Georgia State 69, South Alabama 54 (.pdf)

ATLANTA – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team cut the deficit to six with just over three minutes remaining, but Georgia State closed out the game with nine unanswered points to pick up a 69-54 Sun Belt Conference win on Thursday night at the GSU Sports Arena.  

"We just didn't take advantage of our opportunities tonight," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "I thought early in the game that we were getting good looks.  They just weren't falling for us.  We finally got some to start falling in the second half and had a break-away layup to cut it to four, but we weren't able to convert that opportunity."

The Jaguars (4-21, 1-15 SBC) will now travel to take on Georgia Southern on Saturday in Statesboro, Ga., in a game which can be seen on ESPN3.  Tip-off versus the Eagles is set for 3:30 p.m. (ET).

Breanna Hall led all scorers and finished just two points shy of tying her career high as she dropped in 26 points in the loss.  Hall was 9-of-13 from the field, including three three-pointers, while also knocking down five of her six attempts at the free-throw line.  The 20-point outing marked the fourth time this season that she has registered 20 or more points this season.  It was also the 21st time this year and the 33rd time in her last 37 outings that she has finished in double figures.

Joining Hall in double figures was freshman center Chyna Ellis, who ended the night with 15 points and eight rebounds.  Ellis was 7-of-12 from the field.

The Jag duo finished a combined 16-for-25 in the game, while the rest of the team was just 6-for-30.  Marquita Daniels – who had 37 points in the first meeting versus the Panthers – was held to just four points.  

"We've failed all year long to get that third scorer and we really needed that tonight," Fowler said.  "Georgia State made a conscious effort to not let Marquita Daniels have another good night after she scored 37 in the first meeting at our place."

With the loss, USA is now eliminated from any chance at postseason play.  It was also the 18th consecutive road defeat for the program and the 26th in the last 27 games away from the Mitchell Center.  The loss marked the 14th-straight SBC road loss as well.

Georgia State improved to 11-13 on the year and 6-9 in the Sun Belt, keeping its hopes alive for a spot in next month's conference tournament.  

Gabby Moss led the way for GSU with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting.  Alisha Andrews also chipped in with 14 points and five assists, while Makeba Ponder came off the bench to record 12 points, going a perfect 7-for-7 at the foul line, including hitting four during the final minute to help clinch the win.  

One key stat in the contest was at the foul line where Georgia State was 14-of-17, while USA was just 6-of-9.  All nine of the Jaguars' attempts came in the second half.  The Panthers also held a 38-26 advantage on the glass

Hall and Moss came out and provided the scoring early on for their respective clubs.  Hall hit her first three shots and had six of the Jaguars' eight points, while Moss posted seven of GSU's first 11 and helped the Panthers take a three-point lead just over seven minutes into the contest.  

A little over a minutes later, Andrews – who had seven points and three assists during the first 20 minutes of play – ignited a 10-2 Panther run when the senior guard stole the ball and raced the length of the floor for a layup.  Ashley Cole later capped off the scoring and putGeorgia State up 21-10 with a pair of free throws with less than nine minutes to go in the half.  

With USA's offense struggling to get in sync, the GSU would grow to as much as 15 (29-14) following a jumper by Moss.  Moss led all scorers in the first period of play with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.  

Ellis trimmed the deficit to 31-21 at the 1:21 mark with a 15-foot jumper.

Following Moss' second three-pointer of the half, Hall drove the middle of the lane for a layup with 36 seconds remaining before the intermission.  GSU would take a 34-23 lead into the locker room following Hall's basket.

Hall (10) and Ellis (8) provided most of South Alabama's scoring during the first stanza, combining for 18 of the team's 23 points.  The duo was a combined 9-of-11 from the field, while the rest of the club was just 2-for-20.  

The Jaguars also struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just one of their 12 attempts.

Georgia State held its advantage above double figures for much of the second half and led by as much as 16 on multiple occasions in the final period.  With the Panthers holding a 58-42 lead following a jumper by Ashley Watson with less than seven minutes showing on the clock, Hall began to help the Jags claw their way back as she recorded nine of the club's next 12 points.  The senior from Mesquite, Texas, drained back-to-back treys, the last coming at the 3:11 mark, to narrow the Panther lead to six at 60-54.  

However, following a USA turnover, Ponder would end the rally for the visitors and begin a 9-0 run for GSU to end the game.  Ponder would add four free throws in the final minute to help clinch the 15-point win for Georgia State.

Hall recorded 16 of her 26 points in the second half, while Ponder notched all 12 of her points in the final frame.
 
NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Georgia State marked the seventh in the all-time series between the two programs.  GSU holds a 4-2 lead in the series.  With the win, the Panthers sweep the season series.  Georgia State now holds a 3-0 lead in the series on its home floor.  South Alabama is 2-23 in its last 25 Sun Belt games following the loss to GSU.  The Jaguars have dropped 18-straight road games dating back to last season and 26 of their last 27 away from the Mitchell Center dating back to the end of the 2012-13 season.  USA has also lost 14-straight Sun Belt road contests – the second-longest streak in program history.  The 18-straight overall road losses are the third-most.  With the loss, USA is now eliminated from any chance at postseason play.  The 26-point outing for Breanna Hall versus GSU marked the fourth time this season that she has registered 20 or more points this season.  It was also the 21st time this year and the 33rd time in her last 37 outings that she has finished in double figures.  Both Hall's 26 points and freshman center Chyna Ellis' 15 points finished two-points shy of matching career-best for each.  Hall and Ellis finished a combined 16-for-25 in the game, while the rest of the team was just 6-for-30.  Marquita Daniels – who had 37 points in the first meeting versus the Panthers – was held to just four points.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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