STATESBORO - Georgia Southern women's basketball notched its fourth straight win on Friday, defeating Chicago State by a 93-71 score in its annual Kids Day Field Trip Game, which drew 2,612 fans to Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro.

The second-largest crowd to see a Georgia Southern women's basketball game at Hanner watched the Eagles improve to 6-1 on the year with the victory over the Cougars, who remained winless on the campaign at 0-11.

Chicago State's Yzabe Laualofa Tevao hit a layup at the buzzer at the end of the first quarter to give the Cougars an 18-17 lead going into the second. Georgia Southern would retake the lead in the second quarter and lead 39-34 at halftime.

The Eagles would stretch that lead to double digits in the third quarter thanks to seven points by Terren Ward in the opening three minutes of half, then Le'Andrea Gillis hit back-to-back threes at the end of the period to extend the lead to 21, 67-46, and put the game out of reach.

Ward and Lydia Freeman each scored 15 points on the day to lead the Eeagles offensively. Gillis and Diamond Stokes ended the game with 11 points each, while Shy Booker added 10 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor. Chicago State was led by Jacia Cunningham's 19 points off the bench.

Eagle of the Game
Freeman led the Eagles in rebounds with eight while going 7-of-10 from the floor en route to her 15 points. It's the first time in her career that she has reached double digits in back-to-back games after Freeman had a career-high 17 on Nov. 30 against Agnes Scott.

Stats of the Game
After going 1-for-9 from three-point range in the first half, the Eagles knocked down four of five threes in their 28-point third quarter. In addition, Georgia Southern dominated inside with a 50-20 edge in points in the paint.

Quotables
Head Coach Anita Howard on the win over the Cougars
"I give all credit to how Chicago State played today. We told the team not to look at their record, because they're scrappy, and they kept fighting to the end. I think we played a little too relaxed, and the final score doesn't show what they did today. We still had too many turnovers. and we didn't shoot free throws well in our house. We have to do those two things well when we start Sun Belt play."

Next Up
Georgia Southern plays its final road non-conference contest on Sunday, visiting Detroit Mercy on Sunday, December 11 for a 1 p.m. contest against the Titans in Detroit, Mich.