GSU PlAYS HOST TO ULM WARHAWKS THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
Georgia State (6-7, 1-3), in desperate need of a Sun Belt win, plays host to the University of Louisiana at Monroe (6-7, 0-4), which is equally in desperate need of a Sun Belt win on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET in a basketball doubleheader.
Thursday's game is men's coach Ron Hunter's annual “Barefoot for Bare Feet” Samaritan's Feet charity game in which he coaches without his shoes to raise awareness of the need worldwide. Sharon Baldwin-Tener follows that lead and also takes off her shoes to coach this game to show support.
GSU is still yet to have all 14 players on the roster active this season with starter Tatianna Jackson missing a fifth-straight game with her ankle injury and Kierra Henry joining her in rehabilitation last week. Leading scorer Makeba finnally returned to action last Thursday after a two-game absence.
Up-tempo GSU is No. 3 in the Sun Belt in scoring, No. 85 NCAA (70.6 ppg), No. 2 in both rebounding (40.5) and offensive rebounding (15.9), No. 2 in steals, No. 37 NCAA (10.4) and No. 4 in assists (12.4).
The room for major improvement stat that coach keeps preaching is free throw shooting where the team is shooting just 64.7 percent.
Sophomore preseason All-Sun Belt guard Makeba Ponder again leads the Sun Belt in 3-point baskets made per game (2.4, 26 in her 11 games played) and is No. 9 in the Sun Belt in scoring (13.5). Ponder is averaging 18 points per game over her last four games. Ponder is also No. 11 in steals (1.9 per game).
Freshman PG Madison Newby leads the Sun Belt in assists (62, 4.8) and is No. 12 in steals (24, 1.8) and has her scoring average up to 9.0 points per game with six double-figure games. Junior transfer forward Alaysia Mitchell leads the Panthers in rebounds (6.4, No. 9 Sun Belt), had a double-double last Thursday, missed by one rebound of a double-double Saturday and has six double-figure scoring games to average 9.8 ppg.
ULM's BIG-GAME HUNTER
ULM's 6-foot-1 post player Alayshia Hunter is have an all-conference season. Hunter is averaging 17.5 points per game with top games this season of 28, 25, 22, 221 and 20 points. Her radar accuracy has her shooting 57.6 percent from the field. Hunter is solid on defense as well with 6.8 rebounds per game and 24 blocked shots to rank No. 2 in the Sun Belt.
Hunter hails from Killeen, Texas, home of Fort Hood Army Post, an American defensive battle preparation base.
ULM LIVES WITH DEFENSE
The Warhawks allow just 59.5 points per game, holding seven of their 13 opponents to 57 or fewer points.
ULM leads the Sun Belt in rebounding margin (+4.6), holding opponents to 33 rebounds a game.
They allow opponents to shoot just 37.5 percent from the field and 35 percent outside the 3-point arc.
ULM has swatted away 52 shots this year (4.0 per game).
THE SERIES
Georgia State has won all four games in this series over two years as Sun Belt members, including a 66-61 win at ULM last year on March 5 to earn a spot in the SBC Tournament. That game had 11 ties and nine lead changes and was tied at 59 with two minutes to play. Makeba Ponder hit five 3-pointers for 15 points in that game.
GSU won in Atlanta last year 80-72 on Dec. 30. The Panthers won the game in Atlanta in 2014 on Feb. 19 by the margin of 85-77. That game had 12 lead changes and seven ties. Makeba Ponder had 20 points, including four treys, in that win. The game was 71-70 with 1:28 left to play.
WHO'S HOT NOW
• Makeba Ponder has made at least one 3-point basket in 12 consecutive games and 20 of her last 21 games played. Ponder has scored 72 points in her last 4 games (18.0 ppg).
• Alaysia Mitchell has scored 22 points and made 19 rebounds in the last two games. She's scored 64 points over the past six gamess (10.7). Alaysia Mitchell has made 12 of her last 14 free throws over 7 games (85.7%).
• Kennesha Nichols has made 12 of 18 field goals (66.7%) with 24 points (8.0) and 14 rebounds (4.7) over last 3 games.
• Madison Newby has 44 assists in last 7 games (6.3 per game).
• Astaja Tyghter has scored 62 points in the last 5 games (12.4)
• K.K. Williams has made 7 of her last 9 free throw attempts (77.8%).
• Morgan Jackson has made 8 of 9 free throws this year (88.9) and Erica Norwood has made 7 of her 8 attempts (87.5)
BY THE NUMBERS
2 - Number of seniors on roster (Morgan Jackson and Ashlee Cole)
9 - Number of new players on this year's roster, plus one transfer sitting out the year per NCAA rules.
10.4 - Steals per game that GSU is averaging this year with 135 in the 13 games (No. 37 in NCAA).
12 - Number of different players to start a game so far this year for GSU. It could rise if Haley Gerrin, or Kierra Henry earn the assignment from the coach.
15 - Number of road games GSU will play this year.
15.9 - Number of offensive rebounds the Panthers are averaging this year to rank No. 2 in Sun Belt.
19.0 - Number of turnovers GSU forces per game (No. 61 in NCAA).
70.6 - Points per game GSU is averaging after scoring 90 last Thursday for the 2nd 90-game of season. GSU is No. 85 in the NCAA in scoring.
94 - Career 3-point baskets by sophomore guard Makeba Ponder.
207 - Number of offensive rebounds GSU has this year (15.9 per game) to rank second in the conference.
259 - Career wins by head coach Baldwin-Tener.
