DeLand, Fla. - Sophomore guard Victoria McGowan (Inkster, Mich.) led the Hatters in four categories with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, but the Stetson women's basketball team (1-2) couldn't quite catch up to visiting Georgia State (1-1) Sunday in a 70-61 loss at the Edmunds Center. Freshman forward Sasha Sims (Fayetteville, Ga.) added 16 points for the Hatters.
Sims added three rebounds, two steals and an assist to her 16 points. Senior forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla.) and sophomore guard/forward Simone Taylor (Delray Beach, Fla.) each grabbed six rebounds and scored six and five points, respectively.
Stetson trailed the entire first half but rallied from a 13-point deficit with 8:52 left in the half to cut the GSU margin to 26-24 at halftime. McGowan drained a three-pointer just 12 seconds into the second half to put the Hatters ahead for the first and only time; Traci Haltiwanger hit one of her four three-pointers just 35 seconds later to put the Panthers back up 29-27 and although Stetson would tie the score once, five minutes later, Georgia State would not trail again. The true turning point of the game was a 7-0 run for the Panthers between the 13:54 and 11:47 marks of the second half.
Angelique Burtts put up a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead Georgia State to the victory, the first at GSU for first year head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener. Chan Harris (14 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks) also had a double-double while Haltiwanger scored 15 points for the Panthers as well.
The Hatters are back in action Saturday at 12 p.m. when they visit Miami (Ohio). GoHatters.com will have a link to Game Tracker; follow Stetson on Facebook (Stetson Athletics), Twitter (@StetsonSID) and YouTube (StetsonHatters channel) for complete 360-degree coverage of the Hatters.
