Box Score ORANGEBURG, SC – Georgia Southern freshman Tatum Barber connected on three free throws with 0.4 on the clock to lift the visitors to a 61-58 win over host South Carolina State Tuesday at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, spoiling the Lady Bulldogs' home opener.

Coach Doug Robertson's team fell to 1-3 on the season, while the Eagles improved to 2-3 with the victory.

SC State trailed by 15 points in the first half and by 13 late in the third period before roaring back for a brief lead early in the final period and forcing three ties down the stretch.

"We fell behind by double digits early and were down by 12-13 late in the third period before getting back in the game," noted Robertson.  "We didn't play well defensively, gave up too many easy baskets but used a gallant effort to put ourselves in a position to win but just could not quite complete the comeback."

SC State senior Bryeasha Blair had 22 points – 14 in the second half -- to lead all scorers. Juniors Jaquanna Murray and Kyesha Lewis added 10 points each in the loss. Murray and sophomore Chantel Williams each snared eight rebounds to lead the Lady Bulldogs on the boards. Williams also had a game-high six assists.

Georgia Southern featured balanced scoring with players scoring 11 points each. Senior Alexis Foulkes, junior Rhein Beamon and sophomore Nakol Franks shared the scoring honors. Sophomore Hailey Dias-Allen led the Eagles with seven rebounds to go with four points.

The Lady Bulldogs trailed for most of the game and was down by 13 late in the third period before roaring back to take a brief lead, 48-47, when senior Bryeasha Blair connected on one of her four 3-pointers with 8:34 top play.

Georgia Southern regained the lead on its next possession when Beamon hit from long range to put the visitors up 50-48 with 7:48 left in the game.  Murray scored on a reverse layup for SC State to tie the contest at 50 all before the Eagles took a 54-50 advantage on consecutive baskets by Foulkes with 4:52 showing.

The contest was tied twice after that, the last time at 58-58 when Blair made the second of two from the line with 5.9 ticks on the clock.

Georgia Southern missed but was given another opportunity when SC State's Jasmine Williams grabbed the rebound but came down on the end line with just under two seconds left. The visitors got the ball into Barber who was fouled while putting up a three-pointer. She nailed all three attempts for the final margin.

The Lady Bulldogs were down 17-11 after the first quarter, trailed 32-23 at the half and 47-43 after three quarters.

The Lady Bulldogs return to action Nov. 28 when they take on Columbia International at Columbia, SC in a 7 p.m. contest.
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