GSU HEADS TO TEXAS STATE TO START THE NEW YEAR
 
     Georgia State (6-4) is on its trip that will take “two years” to complete as the Panthers defeated UT-Arlington (68-63, No. 108 RPI) on Wednesday, Dec. 30 and then watched the New Year roll in while in Austin, Texas. Now, the Panthers will play again on Saturday, Jan. 2 at Texas State. Tip is at 3 p.m. on 1340 The Fan 3 radio.

WINS IN FIVE OF LAST SIX GAMES

    The Panthers have won five of their last six games now after dropping three of the first four in November with all the roster changes and line-up substitutions. GSU was a perfect 4-0 in December, for the first time since the December of 1999 (6-0). GSU's last loss was to Charlotte  (7-4, No. 50 RPI) of C-USA. GSU is still No. 192 RPI of the 349 D-I schools.

    Texas State, also 6-5 and No. 124 RPI, has won four of its last five games and is a perfect 5-0 at home after topping Georgia Southern 61-56 on Wednesday.

HEY, WHAT'S NEW?

    If one doesn't have time for the long answer, don't ask “what's new” with GSU women's basketball in 2015-16.  Here's a shorthand version:
        •  The roster has 10 new players, nine active now
        •   12 players have started so far this season (only two left, Gerrin and Henry)
        •   9 players have scored in double figures in the 10 games
        •   12 players have averaged 10 or more minutes a game played
        •   No player has started every game
        •   Will the Panthers play with 1, 2, 3 or 4 guards at a time?  Well, yes.
        •   Will the Panthers play with 1, 2, 3 or 4 forwards at a time?  Well, yes.
        •   Will the Panthers play with 1, 2 or 3 point guards at a time? Well, yes.
        •   Will the Panthers substitute five players at a time sometimes? Well, yes.
        •   Will the Panthers play zone, man-to-man, traps, full-court press? Well, yes.
        •   Has the athletic trainer been the busiest staff member? Well, probably yes.

THIS SERIES

   Texas State and Georgia State have split the four regular season games in the new Sunn Belt rivalry with each team winning its two home games. The teams also met in the Sun Belt tournament two years ago with Texas State winning that one to hold a 3-2 lead.

   The Bobcats hit 11 3-point baskets in last year's 71-61 win in San Marcos and 8 3-pointers in the 74-69 loss in Atlanta. Texas State plays well at home in Strahan Coliseum, including a 5-0 start this year after Wednesday's win over Georgia Southern.  

    The Bobcats are finding ways to grow after the loss of All-Sun Belt star forward Erin Peoples (knee) in October.

DEFENSE WINS 

   Georgia State has a history of pressure defense and ball steals under Coach Baldwin-Tener.
   To start 2015-16, GSU is averaging 10.6 steals per game to rank No. 36 in the NCAA and is forcing 19.4 turnovers to rank No. 54 in the NCAA.  
   GSU's 5 wins of 2015-16 have seen the defense yield 58, 61, 62, 63, 63 and 72 (OT) points.
   The Panthers have run the pattern to 26 wins in the last 31 games when keeping the opposing team below the 60-point line. The first one in 2015-16 was holding Howard to 58 points, but they just missed in three others at the very end.
   GSU has 25 steals from Astaja Tyghter, 17 thefts from Makeba Ponder and 17 steals from Madison Newby in the first 10 games of 2015-16.

GSU NOTES IN TWITTER STYLE: 140 CHARACTERS OR LESS

•  GSU has nine new players this season: two NCAA transfers, three JUCOs and four freshmen.  
•  Makeba Ponder, who tied the GSU record with 69 3-pointers last year, has made 20 on season
•  Coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener is in her 6th year at GSU, her 17th as head coach, with 259 career wins.
•  Georgia State opened with three of its four four games on the road and plays 15 road games this season.
•  GSU has only two seniors: Morgan Jackson and Ashlee Cole, both good 3-point shooters.
•  GSU played 10 players or more in every game this year.
•  Military Brats: Cole born in South Korea, Henry born at Fort Benning, Ga., Draper born in Australia, T. Jackson lived in Japan and Korea, Norwood born in Arlington, Va.
•  Alaysia Mitchell's big brother Charles (6-foot-8) is averaging double-double for the season at Ga. Tech. He also wears 0 as did their mom, Harriett, in high school.
•  Student-Athletes: Tatianna Jackson is chemistry major with goal of orthapaedic surgeon, Morgan Jackson is biology major with goal of Physician's Assistant.
•  Runner-Up is good: Asstaja Tyghter was second-best Miss Florida Basketball (to 6-4 player in Miami). Tyghter had 1,000-point career, 1,000-rebound, 442 steals.
•  GSU made 164 3-pointers last year, 2nd school history and Sun Belt season. The Panthers made 5 or more 3-pointers in 7 of 10 games this year
•  Georgia State has found 10 Georgia Peaches for its roster as 10 of the 15 played high school ball inside the borders.
•  The Trip That Will Cover Two Years:  GSU plays Dec. 30, 2015 and Jan. 2, 2016 with the two Sun Belt rivals in Texas, spending New Year's Eve and Day in a hotel. 

WHO'S HOT

•  Madison Newby has made 14 of her last 22 field goals over the past 4 games (63.6%).

•  Alaysia Mitchell has made 16 of her last 29 field goals (55.2%).

•  Makeba Ponder has made at least one 3-point basket in 10 consecutive games and 18 of her last 19 games played.

•  Erica Norwood has made 5 of 10 3-point baskets in 3 games.

•  Madison Newby has 28 assists in last 4 games (7.0 per game).

•  K.K. Williams has made 7 of her last 8 free throw attempts (87.5%) and last 4 in a row.

•  Alaysia Mitchell has made 7 of her last 8 free throws over 4 games (87.5%).  

•  Morgan Jackson has made 8 of 9 free throws this year (88.9