ATLANTA, Ga. — Marcilina Grayer finally got her first win as Georgia State’s women’s basketball coach Wednesday night, and her Panthers made it a lopsided one, beating Toccoa Falls 84-41 at the GSU Convocation Center.
Georgia State (1-3) had lost several close games to open the season. Against the Screaming Eagles (2-3), the defense took over from the start. The Panthers forced 27 turnovers, came up with 21 steals, a total tied for seventh best in program history, and turned those giveaways into 38 points.
The first quarter set the tone. Georgia State scored the opening six points, forced nine turnovers in the first 10 minutes and used a 10-0 burst to lead 24-8 after one. Toccoa Falls pulled within 27-20 early in the second quarter, but the Panthers closed the half on an 18-2 run for a 45-22 lead and never let the margin shrink after that.
Kenaya Klintman led four Panthers in double figures with 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting and nine rebounds. Grace Lanier scored 14 with six steals, Mariah Knight made 6 of 9 shots for 12 points and Ana Oliveira Dias finished with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Georgia State shot a season-best 50.7% from the floor, piled up 21 assists on 35 baskets and owned the paint 58-14. Its bench added 36 points. The 41 points were the fewest Toccoa Falls has scored this season. A crowd of 619 watched.
Grayer said after the game that her team still has plenty to clean up and is focused on getting a little better every night with an eye on March. The goal now, she said, is stringing together a full 40 minutes of that kind of play. Toccoa Falls got 21 points from Jada Wood and 12 from Riley Berninger.
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