Jan. 10, 2004

BOCA RATON, FL - Shontavia Williams scored a career-high 21 points, but it wasn't enough as Florida Atlantic University was defeated by Georgia State University, 72-67, Saturday night in Boca Raton. The loss drops FAU to 2-10 on the year and 1-4 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Lady Panthers remain undefeated atop the A-Sun with a 5-0 record and are 8-4 overall.

GSU's Patechia Hartman led all scorers with 24 points. Monica Thomas, April Clyburn, and Andrea Neely each had 10. For FAU, Trineca McCleod scored 15 points, and DeKesh Frazier grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

The game featured 14 lead changes as neither team led by more than eight points. FAU took a 65-63 lead with 5:30 remaining on a lay-up by DeeAnna Hanscom. GSU then scored the next six points over a span of 4:16 to lead 69-65 at the 1:14 mark. On the next possession, Sally N'Diaye had a put-back from a missed Williams' three-pointer to pull FAU to within 69-67 with 47 seconds remaining. Both teams connected for just one field goal in the game's final 5:30. GSU's last seven points came from the foul line.

FAU's largest lead was at 8-4 with 18:18 left in the first half. The lead changed hands eight time in the first 20 minutes as GSU built a 40-37 halftime advantage. The Lady Panthers shot 62 percent in the first half after knocking down their first eight attempts.

In the second half, GSU took its largest lead of the night at the 18:46 mark when Thomas hit a three to put her team on top 46-38. FAU then put together a 12-3 run to lead 50-49 at the 14:43 mark. The Lady Panthers responded with a 9-4 run and led 58-53 with 11:00 left.

A 7-1 run by FAU gave the Lady Owls a 60-59 lead with 8:01 remaining. Williams added a jumper at the 6:57 mark and a free throw 51 seconds later to put FAU in front 63-61. Two free throws by GSU's April Clyburn gave the Lady Panthers a 67-65 lead with 3:41 left.

"I thought there was a lack of execution down the stretch," said FAU head coach Chancellor Dugan. "We have to get better in those situations and not panic. I do think we're playing harder and more together."

Despite being outshot 62 percent to 40 percent in the first half, FAU ended up 43 percent for the game while GSU was 42 percent. The Lady Panthers shot just 27 percent in the second half. Gsu held a 44-33 advantage on the boards. The Lady Owls committed a season-low 15 turnovers while forcing 17. However, four of FAU's miscues came in the final six minutes.

Florida Atlantic next plays at Central Florida Tuesday night at 5:00pm. The game will be televised live on Sunshine Network and will be broadcast on WLVJ 1040-AM.