PANTHERS AND TIGERS MEET IN RE-MATCH FOR LAST TIME
Georgia State tries to conclude a three-game home stand with a winning mark as it plays host to the Colonial Athletic Association's Towson Tigers on Thursday evening.
The Panthers edged Towson 56-49 in Towson on Jan. 13 behind Kendra Long's 23 points, while the injury-depleted Tigers played five players 34 or more minutes. Tanisha McTiller, the CAA's third-leading scorer (18.0) behind only Elena Delle Donne and Hollie Mershon, had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Towson.
GSU and Towson usually play close games as 8 games have been decided in single digits, including a pair of games going into overtime.
Georgia State owns a 5-2 lead in the series games in Atlanta, but Towson won last year, 66-52, in the GSU Sports Arena.
The Panthers are trying to get back above .500 as they have never been below the .500 mark this season. With 29 regular season games and no tournament games, the magic number for a winning season is four to get to 15 wins. GSU was 15-15 in 2009-10, as well as 2006-07.
STRENGTHS
GSU is No. 34 in the NCAA in 3-point defense (26.8) and No. 58 in overall field goal percentage (36.3), while sitting at No. 86 in blocked shots (4.0) and No. 129 in steals (9.4). In other words, the Panthers are an in-your-face type of challenging defense. The Panthers also hit the boards hard, holding a +2.4 on the year and a No. 114 national ranking among the 345 schools. Getting to the free throw line has been a good thing as GSU is up to No. 125 in the country with its 70% team free throw shooting.
Individually, Cody Paulk leads the CAA and is No. 14 in the NCAA in blocked shots with 58 (2.64). Her 191 leave her 9 shy of becoming the 7th player in CAA history to record 200 blocks. Busy Paulk is No. 4 in shooting (51.2%), No. 6 in rebounds (8.5) and No. 6 in steals (45). Point guard Ashley Watson is No. 3 in the CAA in FT Pct. (84.1) and No. 46 in the NCAA. Kendra Long is No. 8 in the CAA with 32 3-point baskets.
Towson's McTiller is high in most categories with 18 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 43 steals. She has 8 20-point games this year. Nyree Williams is No. 2 in blocked shots (33) and No. 10 in rebounds (7.2).
GEORGIA STATE-TOWSON SERIES HISTORY
GSU has won three of the last five, after winning this year. But, Towson swept last year after the Panthers had swept both games in 2010-11. GSU is 5-2 in Atlanta against Towson. More often than not, the pace is a little more half-court and the first team to 60 points usually wins in this series.
With GSU leaving for football at the FBS level in the Sun Belt, this year will be the last in this series.
A QUICK LOOK AT TOWSON
Located in a northern suburb of Baltimore, Towson has been under the guidance of Joe Mathews for 12 years now. He has a 142-204 career mark at Towson.
With an enrollment of 21,500, the growing school plays its football in Unitas Stadium. Towson was co-champs of the CAA this year with a 6-2 league mark and 7-4 overall record. The baseball teams plays its games in Schuerholz Stadium, named for Atlanta Braves GM John.
The Tigers have been hit hard by injuries this season, losing multiple starters.
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