PANTHERS AND TRIBE MEET FOR LAST TIME
Georgia State travels to William and Mary in their final meeting of this CAA series as GSU moves on to FBS for football in the Sun Belt in July, even though 10 of GSU's sports are already competing in the Sun Belt.
GSU is coming off a win and series sweep of George Mason on Sunday, 67-51. The Panthers are 2-5 on the road in the CAA, having won at Towson and George Mason. GSU lost by one point at Hofstra, having the ball with 11 seconds and the chance to win, but missing the final shot. The Panthers lost in OT at UNCW, losing a 10-point second-half lead in regulation and five-point lead in OT.
The Panthers edged the Tribe, 57-52, in Atlanta on Feb. 7, after William & Mary led at halftime. As always, the game will be broadcast on WRAS-FM (88.5).
RECORD WATCH
Individually, Cody Paulk leads the CAA and is No. 16 in the NCAA in blocked shots with 66 (2.54). Her 199 leave her 3 shy of becoming the 7th player in CAA history to record 200 blocks. She needs one more block to tie the school record of 67 blocks set by Marcquitta Head in 2006-07 and two to break that record.
Junior guard Kendra Long has made 157 3-point baskets in her three years, surpassing the school career mark of 154 by Kelcey Roegiers Jensen (2003-07).
Sophomore Ashley Watson is shooting 86.3% from the free throw line. Only three have ever topped 85% in a season before, with Marica Maddox hitting 87.4% in 1999-2000 and hitting 86.1% in 2001-02. Watson is currently No. 24 in the NCAA.
MATCH-UPS
GSU will have to be aware of senior Janine Aldridge on both ends of the court. Her 76 3-point baskets lead the CAA (No. 12 NCAA) and her career total is up to 297 as she seeks to become the fifth in CAA history with 300 3-pointers made. Aldridge is also No. 2 in the CAA in steals with 65 and is nine thefts from setting that school record. Inside, GSU must try to slow down Emily Correal, who is fourth in the CAA with 16.9 per game to go with 8,0 rebounds. Correal has 13 games with 20 or more points this year, second only to Delle Donne, while posting 22 against GSU on Feb. 7.
GEORGIA STATE-WILLIAM & MARY SERIES HISTORY
After 12 meetings since Georgia State joined the CAA in 2005-06, the Tribe lead, 8-4.
Last year, Georgia State won in Atlanta, 74-62, in the lone meeting of the season to make it two straight in Atlanta over William and Mary. The Tribe won the only meeting in 2010-11 with a 76-66 decision in Williamsburg. The Panthers also won here in Atlanta in 2009-10, 63-60. The Tribe haven't won in Atlanta since Jan. 17, 2008.
The Panthers won in Atlanta, 57-52, on Feb. 7 with a second-half rally. It was a three-point game with one-minute to go.
A QUICK LOOK AT WILLIAM & MARY
Located in historic Williamsburg, Va., in southeastern Virginia, William and Mary has 8,200 students.
Coach Debbie Taylor is in her 14th season with the Tribe and was a former star player at the school.
The College of William and Mary is the second oldest in America (dating to 1693) and the alma mater to four Presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Tyler and Monroe). It is the home of the first law school in America.
The Tribe are No. 49 in the NCAA in steals (10.7), No. 63 in assists (14.7) and No. 88 in 3's per game (5.7).
DEFENSE HAS BEEN KEY TO GEORGIA STATE WINS
Georgia State s 13-13 record is primarily a credit to the defensive efforts. This season is only the seventh time of the Panthers' 38-season history that they had started by winning 8 of its first 10 games.
GSU's defense has held 12 opponents under 52 points this season and allow just 60.4 points a game despite forcing an up-tempo, fast-paced game.
If one wants to know primarily why GSU is winning, just look at the national NCAA rankings of the 345 Division I teams and one will see the impact the Panthers' aggressiveness is having:
• No. 54 in the NCAA in 3-point field goal defense (.276)
• No 65 in the NCAA in all field goal defense (.365)
• No. 121 in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (3.7)
• No. 121 in the NCAA in steals per game (9.3)
• No. 123 in the NCAA in rebound margin (+1.7)
• No. 142 in fewest points allowed (60.4)
PAULK'S SWAT MARKS
Senior center Cody Paulk worked her way toward the top of the GSU all-time list for blocked shots and is nearing the single-season mark as well. She needs 1 more to tie the season record of 67 of Marcquitta Head and two blocks to break it.
With 199 blocks, Paulk owns the school mark that had stood for 16 years. She has moved moved into 7th in CAA history and needs 4 more to move into 6th at 203.
Long FROM LONG RANGE
Junior Kendra Long has a great name for being an outstanding three-point shooter.
In her first two years at GSU, she had become the only player in school history with two 50 or more three-point baskets made seasons.
Her 157 made has already moved her into first place after Sunday's four treys on the school's all-time list.
The 4-Game, 8-Day Grind
GSU is on the CAA's four games in eight-day grind for the student-athletes.
For GSU, that means missing some classes on Wednesday to fly 1100 miles to Boston. They took an academic advisor to help with study hall and all the missed classes Thursday.
After the 7 p.m. tip, GSU returned to the hotel, only to have a 3:30 a.m. wake- up call to get to airport to catch the 6 a.m. flight for the 1100 mile trip back to Atlanta and try to get the worn-out students to class on Friday. The plane had a mechanical problem and a two-hour delay, so the students didn't get back to campus until 12:30.
On Saturday, it was time for catch-up homework and a practice for Sunday's game. Sunday was the Senior Day ceremonies. On Monday, it was a little more class and missed classes to depart for the 600-mile trip to Williamsburg and a practice. On Tuesday, it's more homework and tutoring in the hotel for the Tuesday night game.
On Wednesday, it's the 5:30 wake-up to catch the 7:45 a.m. flight for the 600 miles back home to try to get to more classes and more practice.
On Thursday, GSU plays host to Drexel at 7 p.m. after the classes and the shootaround.
