DeLand, Fla. -- The Hatters rallied from a six-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime, but Georgia State scored 19 points in the extra session to defeat Stetson 80-72 Monday afternoon at the Edmunds Center.
The Panthers (5-4) got 26 points from Makeba Ponder to capture the Hatter Classic title. Stetson (8-4) had its five-game win streak snapped.
Coming off Sunday's school record 40-point performance, Brianti Saunders led four Hatters in double figures with 17 points. Aisha Turner scored 16, DeAsia Beal tallied 13, and Breanna Bey had a double-double of 11 points and 17 rebounds.
The Hatters trailed 52-46 with 7:04 to play, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Turner and Sarah Sagerer tied the game at 52. Saunders hit from behind the arc moments later to give Stetson a 57-54 lead.
Georgia State fought back as Ponder hit a pair of 3-pointers to put the Panthers ahead by one with under a minute to play. Saunders split a pair of free throws with 31 seconds left to help force overtime.
Stetson held an early two-point advantage in the extra period, but Georgia State went on a 11-0 run to pull away late.
"I was probably more disappointed in our first half than anything," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said. "Regardless of that, we still got the game to overtime and had a chance, and we had a chance to win at the end of regulation. We had chances; you just have to execute down the stretch. To their credit, they hit a couple of big shots and we didn't. They hit two big shots. We didn't hit the big shots when we needed them."
Saunders, who was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week earlier Monday, earned Hatter Classic all-tournament team honors.
Stetson heads into the holiday break with an 8-4 record. The Hatters will visit nationally-ranked Tennessee on Dec. 30.
All-Tournament Team:
Makeba Ponder - MVP (GSU)
Alaysia Mitchell (GSU)
Brianti Saunders (Stet)
Kendra Cooper (BCU)
Patrice Butler (GaSou)
Notes: It was Stetson's first overtime game since the 2013-14 season ... Brianti Saunders played all 45 minutes ... Saunders has scored in double figures in all 12 games this season ... Breana Bey's 17 rebounds was a season-high ... The Hatters had their 11-game win streak in the Hatter Classic and their string of five straight Hatter Classic titles come to an end ... It was also the team's first regular season non-conference loss at home since 2010.
