CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Georgia State Panthers overcame a sluggish start and a torrent of Coastal Carolina three-pointers to claw out a 68-63 victory in a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at the HTC Center.

The win, secured before an announced crowd of 707, snapped a two-game skid for Georgia State and improved its record to 5-8 overall. Coastal Carolina fell to 6-7 with the loss, which came despite being a heavy favorite according to pregame analytics.

The contest was a study in contrasting styles and resilience. Coastal Carolina’s offense flowed almost exclusively from beyond the arc, where they launched 38 attempts, connecting on 12. Georgia State, meanwhile, struggled mightily from deep, hitting just 5 of 24 three-point attempts. The Panthers’ path to victory was paved at the free-throw line and through relentless defensive pressure, forcing 25 Chanticleer turnovers.

The opening quarter suggested a different story. Coastal Carolina, led by the sharp shooting of guard Kristin Williams, raced to a 17-9 lead. Williams, who finished with a game-high 21 points, hit two early threes as the Chanticleers exploited Georgia State’s defensive rotations. The Panthers looked out of sync, committing seven turnovers in the period and failing to establish any offensive rhythm.

The momentum began to shift in the second quarter. Georgia State’s defense tightened, holding Coastal Carolina to just 11 points. A spark came from the Panthers’ bench in the form of guard Eghosa Obasuyi. The sophomore from Villa Rica, Georgia, entered the game and immediately provided a lift, scoring 10 points in the first half, including a critical three-pointer and a pair of free throws that helped narrow the gap. Georgia State outscored Coastal Carolina 18-11 in the frame, cutting the deficit to a single point, 28-27, at halftime.

The third quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair with five lead changes. Coastal Carolina’s Tessa Grady, who scored 12 points, hit a three-pointer to put the Chanticleers up 40-38 late in the period. But Georgia State’s Cheyenne Holloman answered with a driving layup, and the Panthers took a 43-42 lead into the final quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

The most pivotal sequence of the game unfolded in the fourth quarter’s final minutes. With Georgia State clinging to a 53-51 lead, Coastal Carolina’s Kinsea Grimes blocked a driving layup attempt by Crystal Henderson, seemingly preserving a chance for the Chanticleers to tie or take the lead. On the ensuing possession, however, Georgia State’s defensive pressure forced a turnover from Coastal Carolina’s Paige Bradley. Henderson, the Panthers’ floor general from Marietta, Georgia, promptly stole the ball and converted a layup to extend the lead to 55-51 with 1:13 remaining.

That two-possession swing proved insurmountable for Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers were forced to foul, and Georgia State, which shot 23 of 31 from the line, closed the game with precision. Henderson, who led the Panthers with 14 points, and Holloman, who added 10 points and four assists, combined to hit four crucial free throws in the final 14 seconds to seal the five-point win.

Beyond Henderson and Holloman, Georgia State’s balance was key. Forward Ari Dyson contributed 12 points, while Obasuyi’s 10 points off the bench provided essential production. For Coastal Carolina, Williams’s 21 points led all scorers, and Bradley added 11 points, but the team’s 25 turnovers and 7-of-13 shooting from the foul line ultimately undermined their perimeter attack.

The victory gives Georgia State a positive start to conference play as it looks to build momentum heading into the new year. Coastal Carolina will aim to regroup after letting a winnable home game slip away in the final minutes.