Senior Indya Green's career-high 29 points were not enough as Georgia Southern women's basketball fell to Arkansas State, 76-73, on Saturday afternoon in Sun Belt action from Jonesboro, Ga.
The Red Wolves (6-7, 2-1 SBC) collected their second straight Sun Belt victory, while Georgia Southern moved to 7-8 overall and 0-3 in the league with its fourth straight loss.
The nation's fourth-most prolific three-point shooting team knocked down 6-of-9 threes in the first quarter as Arkansas State built a 24-12 lead after one period. That lead stretched to 14 early in the second quarter, but Georgia Southern went on an 11-2 run midway through the second quarter to tighten things up and eventually tie the game, 39-39, at the break.
The game was back-and-forth the rest of the way with six ties and three lead changes in the second half. Arkansas Stae led by seven, 71-64, with 5:42 left, but the Eagles were able to cut the lead to one, 74-73, with McKenna Eddings' turnaround jumper in the paint with 35 seconds remaining.
Georgia Southern played halfcourt defense and got a stop by the Red Wolves, and had the ball with 3.7 remaining, but an entry pass went out of bounds and the Red Wolves made two free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.
Green led all scorers on the night with her 29 points, while Nakiyah Mays-Prince added 12 points and Eddings finished with 10. Four Red Wolves reached double figures on the day, led by 16 points from Kyanna Morgan.
Eagle of the Game
Green scored the most points for an Eagle in a road gamGe since 2021 by hitting 11-of-19 shots from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. She added 12 points, two assists and two steals, notching her third double-double of the season.
Stat of the Game
Georgia Southern shot a season-best 54.2% from the floor, hitting 26-of-48 shots.
Quotables
Head coach Hana Haden on the in-game adjustments on Arkansas State's three-point shooting
"We knew they averaged about 12 threes a game at home. They made 11 tonight, six in the first quarter. In that first quarter, we were just overhelping on the dribble, which we talked about - but we did a better job on not doing that after the first. Just understanding that they are driving to kick it out and shoot those threes. It's tough playing against a team that is searching for those threes so bad, but put up a much better fight after that first quarter, limiting them to just two threes a quarter afterwards."
On the 29-point, 12-rebound effort of Indya Green in the game
"Indya was undeniable tonight. She competed her butt off, she's tough as nails. She did everything she could offensively to try and help us come out with the win."
Next Up
Georgia Southern makes the short trip to Atlanta to take on Georgia State at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8 as a part of a Sun Belt doubleheader with the men's team. The men will face the Panthers at 8 p.m.
