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WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Sophomore guard Alisha Andrews lit up the floor with 22 points, including a career-high six three-pointers, to lead UNCW past Georgia State, 64-54, on Senior Night in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Wednesday night at Trask Coliseum.

The Seahawk victory ensured a rematch between the squads in the opening round of the CAA Women's Basketball Championships on March 8. UNCW improved to 18-11, 11-7 in conference play, and finishes in a tie for fourth with Hofstra in the league standings, but claimd the No. 5 seed by way of tiebreakers. The Panthers dropped to 8-21, 2-16 in league action, and finished as the No. 12 team in the CAA.

Senior forward Theresa Jackson-Henderson, who was honored before her final home contest as a Seahawk, made the most of her first career start with career-highs in boards and points, posting 14 and seven, respectively. Junior forward Karneshia Garrett added a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Junior center Cody Paulk paced GSU with 16 points, while senior forward Chan Harris notched 14 markers and a team-high eight boards. The duo shot a combined 12-of-21 from the floor, but were two of the only effective elements of the Panthers' offense on the night.

Early in the second half, the Seahawks were still holding a slim 25-23 lead when one of Andrews' five three-pointers in the frame sparked a 15-4 run. Garrett concluded the streak with a layup at the 13:37 mark to give UNCW the 40-27 lead.

GSU battled back, creating a 10-2 run of its own to cut the Seahawks' advantage to 42-37 off a jumper from Paulk at the 9:52 mark.

But UNCW answered behind two more treys from Andrews, boosting the advantage back to 10 at 48-38. The Seahawks held sway for the remainder of the contest, never allowing the Panthers to pull within six.

Both squads struggled shooting the ball at the start of the contest. A layup from Garrett with 17:51 left in the half gave UNCW a 6-3 lead, but neither team scored for the next five minutes of action.

By the time GSU's junior guard Tiffany Anderson broke the scoreless drought at 12:14 to cut the Seahawks' lead to 6-5, the teams had started a combined 3-of-22 from the field.

With UNCW still clinging to a 13-12 lead at 5:27, Garrett deposited two of her 10 first half markers to spark a 12-6 run to give the Seahawks their largest lead of the half, 25-18. Andrews capped the run by draining a trey with 1:58 remaining in the half.

Two Panther free throws in the final minute, one by both junior guard Jerlisa Taylor and junior center Cody Paulk, concluded the halftime scoring as UNCW went into the break with a 25-20 advantage.

The two squads are off until a week from Thursday when they meet again in the opening round of the CAA Tournament. It will be the first meeting between the Seahawks and the Panthers in the conference championships.

GAME NOTES:

UNCW improved to 8-7 all-time against Georgia State as it picked up its third straight victory against the Panthers. The Seahawks also moved to 4-3 at home as it picked up its second consecutive home win against GSU.
The Seahawks recorded double-figure assists for the 27th time this season as it finished with 16 assists.
UNCW improved to 13-1 this season and 31-4 under Cooper-Dyke when it holds a lead at half time.
The Seahawks moved to 11-0 this season and 31-3 under Cooper-Dyke when it holds a lead of 10 points or more in a contest.
UNCW out-rebounded its opponent for the eighth time this season as it held a 46-44 edge on the glass. The Seahawks improved to 7-1 this season and 21-5 under Cooper-Dyke when it holds an advantage on the glass.
The Seahawks led wire-to-wire for just the second time this season (Xavier) and the seventh time under Cooper-Dyke.
UNCW knocked down eight or more three-pointers for the sixth time this season as it was 8-of-18 from three-point range against the Panthers. The Seahawks improved to 5-1 this season when doing so.
The Seahawks shot 40 percent from the floor for the 14th time this season as it was 23-of-66 (.348) from the field. UNCW moved to 4-10 this season and 10-16 under Cooper-Dyke when doing so.
UNCW held its opponent below 35 percent shooting for the fifth time this season as it limited Georgia State to just 19-of-58 shooting (.328). The Seahawks improved to 5-0 this season when holding opponents below 35 percent from the field.
The 20 points by Georgia State in the first half was a season low for a UNCW opponent. The previous low for a Seahawks opponent in the first half was 23, set in the teams matchup with Towson on Feb. 23.
GSU held a 20-8 edge in second-chance points, including a 16-6 edge in the second half.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

4 - Alisha Andrews

Reached double figures in points for the 19th time this season and the 38th time in her career.
Surpassed the 20-point plateau for the fifth time this season and the seventh time in her career.
Led team in scoring for the 11th time this season and the 16th time in her career.
Led team in assists for the 19th time this season and the 43rd time in her career.
Became just the fourth player in program history to record 300 assists in her career with her helper at the 18:23 mark of the first half.

40 - Karneshia Garrett

Reached double figures in points for the 14th time this season and the fourth straight contest.
Pulled down double figure rebounds for the seventh time this season.
Posted her seventh double-double of the season and her third in the last four games.

44 - Theresa Jackson-Henderson

Made her first career start
Pulled down double-figure rebounds for the first time in her career. Established a new career high with 14 rebounds, shattering old mark of seven set in the team's last contest at Hofstra on Feb. 26.
Led team in rebounding for the second time in her career.
Established a new career high in points, breaking old mark of four set against William and Mary on Jan. 31, 2011.

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