STATESBORO, Ga. – Freshman Astaja Tyghter scored 21 points and hit a jumper just inside the foul line with one second left to lift Georgia State to a 61-60 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball victory over Georgia Southern Monday night in Hanner Fieldhouse.

The victory gives the Panthers a point in the Southern vs. State Rivalry Series, which Georgia State now leads 7-3.

After Angel McGowan gave Georgia Southern a one-point lead with two free throws with 8.3 seconds left, Makeba Ponder got the ball on the inbounds, dribbled around the left side, drew three defenders and kicked it to Tyghter, whose shot sailed through the net with one tick left on the clock.

Georgia Southern called timeout to advance the ball and fed McGowan on the inbounds pass deep on the left wing, but the junior's shot was short and may not have beaten the buzzer.

McGowan tallied 20 points, a career-high seven steals, four rebounds and a blocked shot for Georgia Southern (7-19, 4-13), and Patrice Butler collected 13 points and four rebounds. Alexis Sams contributed 13 points, three assists and a steal.

Butler hit consecutive three-pointers from the wing as the Eagles erased a seven-point deficit in the final 1:41 to take the lead on McGowan's free throws.

Tyghter scored 14 points in the second half on 7-of-10 shooting and was 10-of-15 for the game for Georgia State (10-16, 5-12). Ponder recorded 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Georgia Southern's trapping zone defense did the trick again tonight as the Eagles forced the Panthers into 23 turnovers and scored 30 points off of the miscues. The Panthers made up for it by corralling 19 offensive rebounds and scoring 15 second-chance points.

The Story
Trailing 48-47 in the fourth quarter, Georgia State used a 7-0 run, capped by a pair of free throws by Tatianna Jackson, to open a 54-48 lead with 4:34 to go. The Eagles came roaring back with the help of a couple Panther turnovers, and a pair of free throws by Trellanie English-Lurry made the score 54-52. Tyghter hit a jumper for Georgia State, and after the Eagles missed two three-point tries on their trip down the floor, Ponder nailed a trey from the baseline as the shot clock buzzer sounded to put the Panthers ahead 59-52 with 1:41 to go.

But Georgia Southern was not done as Butler hit the two triples just 31 seconds apart after the Eagles got a turnover and a defensive stop on the other end.

Quotables from Coach Kip Drown
"This was the sixth game of the season in conference (play) that was decided by five or less points and so far we have been beaten in each one," said Drown. "You go in and try to tell the team that you have to bounce back tomorrow, we have to have a good workout tomorrow and be ready for Thursday night with App State. We just have to be really mentally tough right now and be ready to bounce back."

"I thought Georgia State played very hard; they hurt us on the glass. I think that was the key for them. The turnovers were big for us because it allowed us to get out and run which we really wanted to do, so those two kind of countered each other. The bottom line is Tyghter hit a shot and we weren't able to get one. I'm still proud of our team, we played hard but I thought we made too many mental mistakes, particularly in the third quarter when we had some break downs. We just have to continue to clean those (mistakes) up and not beat (ourselves)."

Next Up
The Eagles play their home finale against Appalachian State Thursday at 5 p.m. in Hanner Fieldhouse. Promotions: Three Friends Thursday – Bring three of your friends and receive a free giveaway item!; The Langston Chapel Middle School Step Team will perform.