PENSACOLA, Fla. – Georgia State and Marshall come out on top in the fourth round of the 2025 Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship, earning their spots in the quarterfinals.
Game 7: (8) Georgia State 65, (5) Old Dominion 62 [Box Score]
Crystal Henderson and Mikayla Toliovert had career days for the Panthers, leading them to a 65-62 victory over Old Dominion. Henderson led the team with 32 points, while Tolivert dominated with a 28-point, 10 rebound double-double.
For the Monarchs Kelsey Thompson led the team with a 15-point, 10 rebound double-double. She was joined in double digit scoring figures by Simaru Fields (11) and Brenda Fontana (17).
The theme of the tournament for the women have been back and forth battles, seeing who can outlast the others.
Having already played one game, Georgia State got off to a slow start over a rested ODU team. It wouldn’t take long for them to heat up, leading to five lead changes in the first quarter that would leave ODU on top by one, 13-12 heading into the second.
ODU would control the second by a slim margin with Georgia State tying the score once and staying within six before the Monarchs pulled away again. The Monarchs outscored the Panthers 20-17 in the second and held a 33-29 lead at the half.
Tolivert and Henderson combined for all 29 of the Panthers points in the first half, with Cheyenne Holloman contributing with a game leading seven rebounds.
ODU would hang onto their lead coming out of the locker room. Down five, Henderson would get sent to the line and sink both free throws after an ODU technical foul to get within three. The sophomore would then nail a three to tie the game, 41-41.
The Monarchs responded by regaining a 48-45 lead heading into the final quarter. They would hold the lead all the way to the one-minute mark, when Tolivert was fouled and made both free throws to tie the game at 60 a piece.
Georgia State had their first lead with under a minute to play after a foul sent Henderson to the line once again. Desperation fouls would ensue for Old Dominion, giving Georgia State the chance to pull away and secure the win.
Old Dominion ends the season with a 17-15 record.
8-seeded Georgia State faces 4-seeded Coastal Carolina tomorrow at 12 p.m.
Game 8: (11) Marshall 75, (6) App State 66 [Box Score]
Marshall has been the story of the tournament so far, winning four games in four days as the 11 seed. Under the direction of first year head coach Juli Fulks, the Herd now tie for most wins in the league tournament (South Alabama, 2019).
Marshall took down 6-seeded App State 75-66, commanding the lead for most of the game thanks to a career night from Peyton Ilderton who dropped 21 points, while securing a career best four made threes.
Aislynn Hayes and Meredith Maier joined Ilderton in double figures with 15 and 12, respectively.
The Mountaineers were led by Emily Carver and Mara Neira who each had 23 points, the only App State players in double figures.
App State hit back-to-back threes and got out to an early 10- 6 lead over Marshall. The Herd responded with a 10-0 run of their own and eventually took the lead and would end the first quarter up 19-13.
Marshall held the lead the entirety of the second quarter, not letting App State get closer than three before pulling away by nine to end the half. Six different players contributed to their 35 points at the midway mark, shooting 48.0 from the field.
The Herd quickly added five points to the board to begin the second half before a three-point battle would ensue between the two teams. Three made dimes would have App State within eight, the closest deficit of the quarter. Yet Marshall would pull away once again, leading 55-41 to end the third.
App State got hot in the home stretch of the fourth, hitting five three pointers in the final four minutes of play, getting as close as nine after trailing by 19 at the beginning of the quarter.
Marshall was able to fend off a potential comeback and move on to the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament.
App State’s season comes to an end with a 13-17 record.
11-seeded Marshall will take on 3-seeded Troy tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship
Tuesday, March 4
Game 1 – (12) Georgia Southern def. (13) Southern Miss, 70-59
Game 2 – (11) Marshall def. (14) South Alabama, 73-59
Wednesday, March 5
Game 3 – (12) Georgia Southern def. (9) ULM, 75-69
Game 4 – (11) Marshall def. (10) Texas State, 68-62
Thursday, March 6
Game 5 – (8) Georgia State def. (12) Georgia Southern, 70-64
Game 6 – (11) Marshall def. (7) Louisiana, 48-46
Friday, March 7
Game 7 – (8) Georgia State def. (5) Old Dominion – 70-64
Game 8 – (11) Marshall def. (6) App State – 75-66
Saturday, March 8
Game 9 – (4) Coastal Carolina vs. (8) Georgia State – 12:00 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Game 10 – (3) Troy vs. (11) Marshall – 2:30 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Sunday, March 9
Game 11 – (1) James Madison vs. Winner Game 9 – 11:30 a.m. CT [ESPN+]
Game 12 – (2) Arkansas State vs. Winner Game 10 – 2 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Monday, March 10 (Championship)
Game 13 – Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 – 1 p.m. CT [ESPN/ESPN2]