PENSACOLA, Fla. – Kelsey Thompson recorded her 14^th double-figure game of the season, but it wasn't enough as South fell to Georgia State in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament 59-44, ending South Alabama's season. 
 
Thompson led South with 16 points, the 12^th time this season she's led South in that category. Kiana Anderson also recorded double figures in the contest, recording 13. The game was Anderson's 12^th double-digit game.
 
Maggie Robinson recorded 11 rebounds, a season-high and tying a career-high.
 
Georgia State had three players in double figures and were led by Mikyla Tolivert with 19 points.
 
GAME FACTS

• The Jags and the Panthers both started slow, with Georgia State up 5-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter.
• The teams were tied 7-7 with three to play in the quarter.
• South took the lead at the end of the first, up 12-8.
• Georgia State took the lead again with seven minutes in the second, up 14-12.
• South hit a scoring drought midway through the second quarter, trailing 24-17 with three left in the half.
• The Panthers led 29-21 at the half.
• Georgia State took a 10-point lead to start the third quarter, up 32-21.
• South hit a scoring drought to close the third, trailing 26-29 after three quarters of play.
• South cut Georgia State's lead to 10, trailing 5-40 with five minutes to play.
• South was unable to battle back, dropping the contest 59-44.

 
 
NOTES

• Casey Ferguson earned her ninth start of the season.
• Kelsey Thompson recorded her 14^th double-figure game of the season.
• Maggie Robinson led South in rebounding for the first time this season.
• The loss was the second year in a row South has fallen in the first round of the tournament.

 
 
QUOTABLE
Head coach Terry Fowler:
Opening statement:
"Very disappointed to not be the best version of ourselves today. We had been trending upward and playing really good basketball and had some good practices. Credit to Georgia State, they came out and really got into the zone and forced us to shoot a lot of threes, and unfortunately, they weren't falling for us. We kind of live and die by the three and today they just didn't fall. Thought we got out to a decent start after we settled down and then it was the story of the year. We had two single-digit scoring quarters that gave them a chance to build the lead. Fourth quarter we were fighting, and we had a chance to make it a game, but we just weren't able to capitalize on chances. Just wasn't our day today."
 
On what you take away from the season for next year:
"You get another year of experience. We had a key injury early and it took us some time to adjust to that and once we settled in, Kelsey took over at the point guard spot, which was huge. It's just another year of experience and another year playing together. The biggest thing is learning. It took us time to mesh and figure each other out. We got young players; you win with old players. You look at this league the top of the league is old and the bottom of the league is young. We will be an old team real soon."
 
 
Freshman Kelsey Thompson:
On her performance and how it felt being in Pensacola:
"It kind of felt like a regular game to me. I have never been here so I had to go in thinking it was a normal game. I had some spurts of not being settled in so I had to settle in and once I did, I had to adjust to the defense and back to the offense. It was a little rough. Georgia State took away a lot of what I like to do, so they made me do some things that I haven't done in a minute."
 
On what you take away from the season for next year:
"Just being the best version of myself. I've been focusing on that for the last month. I know it's an overall game, but you always wanna have a standard you set in a game. Just knowing I am gonna have that standard for the next three years, even if we lose or win, I'm going to do certain things in a game and be there for my teammates. Just focus on having a consistent standard in my game."
 
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