{"id":12355,"date":"2026-06-30T10:41:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/?p=12355"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:41:31","slug":"sidelines-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/2026\/06\/30\/sidelines-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Sidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SIDELINES<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

WOMEN\u2019S BASKETBALL<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Record Crowd Watches Eagles Tussle with Louisiana State<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A record crowd of 5,322 gathered at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center to see Georgia Southern women\u2019s basketball take on Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers. The crowd is the single-game women\u2019s basketball record for a home game. LSU, ranked No. 5 when the game was held, defeated host Georgia Southern, 118-70.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgia Southern came out in the third quarter and hit 7 of 12 shots, including two 3-pointers, to outscore LSU by a 23-21 margin. But the Tigers opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to assume control in the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe knew the test that we had coming into game day,\u201d said Head Women\u2019s Basketball Coach Hana Haden. \u201cWe knew it was going to be a huge challenge to defend them and to rebound. We knew it would be tough to get out and defend them in transition. But we put up 70 points and I thought we were really aggressive at times, so I\u2019m proud of the way we scored the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

GOLF<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgia Southern Alumnus Clinches PGA Tour Victory<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Former Georgia Southern men\u2019s golfer Steven Fisk (\u201919) birdied the final three holes for a two-shot victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson to claim his first PGA Tour victory and his tour exemption through 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shot an 8-under 64 in the final round to win the October event with a 24-under score. He went out in 33 (-3) and came in at -5 to finish strong and hoist the trophy. Speaking to Golf Digest, Fisk says he saw himself as the winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship even though he trailed two-time PGA tour winner Garrick Higgo by two shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI came out today with an attitude that nothing was going to stop me from what I wanted, no matter what happened, no matter what shots I hit,\u201d said Fisk. \u201cI just felt like I\u2019d be standing right here right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

STUDENT-ATHLETES<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History Made in The Classroom by The Eagle Athletes<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The average student-athlete GPA for the Fall 2021 Semester was 3.03. Now, only five years later, the Georgia Southern Athletics Department is reporting that more than 400 students who are part of the department set a record GPA average of 3.26 for the Fall 2025 Semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, 292 student-athletes earned a place on the honor roll (3.0 or higher). Of that group, 104 made the Dean\u2019s List (3.50-3.99) and 76 made the President\u2019s List for earning a perfect 4.0 semester GPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, seven teams broke their previous fall GPA record: football, baseball, men\u2019s basketball, rifle, volleyball, women\u2019s basketball and women\u2019s golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

SWIMMING AND DIVING<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head Coach Ready to Dive Into Upcoming Season<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The 2025-26 season was Georgia Southern Women\u2019s Swimming and Diving team\u2019s first as an affiliate member in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Eagles Head Coach Morgan McCafferty called it a natural fit for the team. McCafferty began her first season as the women\u2019s swimming and diving head coach during the 2024-25 campaign. Her arrival marked the beginning of a new era for the program thanks to her background in both high-level competition and developmental coaching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team adopted a more disciplined and process-driven training model, emphasizing technical development, consistency and long-term growth. Eagles responded with improved individual performances and greater accountability. There\u2019s now a renewed sense of purpose at the Statesboro pool deck for the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n