The Panthers home opener is Sunday and it is a dandy.
Florida State, currently ranked No. 10 in the ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 13 in the AP Poll, will offer a massive challenge for the home team in Sunday's 2 p.m. home opener.
The Seminoles, 26-8 last year and a perfect 2-0 this year after a Tuesday win at Florida, feature 6-foot-5 post player Jacinta Monroe, a candidate for national player of the year. Add in 6-foot-4 Cierra Bravard as an All-ACC freshman last year, and the 'Noles of veteran coach Sue Semrau have a huge inside presence.
Georgia State rolled out of the starting blocks with a decisive 25-point pounding of city rival Kennesaw State of the Atlantic Sun on Saturday night in Kennesaw. Coach
Lea Henry's squad returns seven letterwinners and adds a junior college all-america player to the mix to give the team optimism and confidence for the season.
The Panthers rose to the occasion twice last year in winning the season opener on the road at Clemson and by toppling perennially ranked Old Dominion here at home.
Florida State, who rolls in with an 11-game road winning streak, has a pair of local Atlanta-area players who play key roles and give them some fans in the stands.
Six-foot-two junior Chan Harris started the Panthers off well in the opener with her 22 points and 11 rebounds, while senior veteran forward
Danyiell McKeller enjoyed her 38th career double-figure game with 22 points. All-America six-foot JUCO transfer
Angelique Burtts added 16 points from the wing in her first game. Sophomore point guard
Crystal Johnson, a Gainesville, Fla., native, led the CAA in assists last season as a freshman and is a catalyst. Senior guard
Brittany Graham has 100 career three-point baskets to add more punch.
No. 10 Florida State isn't the highest-ranked team to visit the Sports Arena as Georgia was ranked No. 4 on Dec. 28, 2000 when they played here and the Dawgs were ranked No. 8 when they came back on Nov. 27, 2002. The most recent Top-20 team to play here was CAA foe Old Dominion, who was ranked No. 19 on Jan. 6, 2008.
Over the past decade alone, Georgia State has seemingly played a team ranked at many high spots in the rankings. The Panthers drew No. 1 Duke in the NCAA tournament in 2003, faced No. 3 North Carolina just two years ago in 2007 in Chapel Hill and fought the No. 5 Carolina Tar Heels in 2004 in Myrtle Beach. State faced No. 6 Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and No. 6 Louisiana Tech in the NCAA in 2001. State drew No. 7 Minnesota in a 2003 tournament at Virginia.
Georgia State has beaten a Top 20-ranked team in the Sports Arena when the Panthers shocked Coach Andy Landers' Georgia Bulldogs in overtime during the 1981-82 season.
Tickets are on sale now for just $5 at 866-GA-STATE or online on this web site, as well as on sale at the ticket office at the Sports Arena. Georgia State students with valid Panther ID cards are admitted free to the student section. As always, the game will be broadcast live on 100,000-watt WRAS-FM (88.5) radio.
