The Georgia Bulldogs dominated the North Carolina Central Eagles on Monday afternoon. Freshman guard Mia Woolfolk recorded a double-double and led the team offensively with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs lost a great amount of senior players after last season, but the freshmen proved themselves in their season opening game. Georgia started two freshmen, Trinity Turner and Mia Woolfolk, who helped lead the team to victory, 96-52. This was the first time since 1997 that the Georgia Lady Bulldogs started two freshmen.
Georgia had the lead throughout the entire game. Offensively, they proved to be much stronger than the NC Central Eagles. NC Central had more turnovers than Georgia in the first quarter, which limited their opportunity to score.
In just the first half of the game, Georgia was up 54-22. The turnovers caused by the Eagles created multiple chances for the Georgia Bulldogs to score. In the first half, freshmen Woolfolk and Turner were both 4-4 in free throws made and attempted. In Monday afternoon’s game, freshmen combined for 60 of Georgia’s 96 points.
Woolfolk spoke about her experience playing in her first college-level basketball game tonight.
“It’s a crazy experience. Obviously, it being my first game, it was just a surreal moment,” she said.
Head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, and former Lady Bulldog, is coaching her 20th season this year. In 19 seasons, she has compiled a 406-187 record. Abrahamson-Henderson spoke about her new Lady Bulldogs team full of freshmen this year.
“I prefer to have freshmen and develop them and build them. It’s just fun coaching them and teaching them…They’re still learning.”
By securing a win in the season opener, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, and especially the freshmen, proved that coach Abrahamson-Henderson has prepared them well at practice, not only going into this afternoon’s game, but the rest of the season.
The largest lead that the NC Central Eagles saw was a 3 point lead about a minute and a half into the first quarter. Despite being down 32 points going into the second-half, the NC Central Eagles remained steady throughout the rest of the game. Sophomore guard Kyla Bryant shot and made the first basket of the third quarter. She also scored a free throw later in the second half.
Fouls and turnovers proved to be the Eagles’ weaknesses throughout the remainder of the game. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs were able to score 27 points off turnovers, whereas the NC Central Eagles only scored 7.
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs defeated the NC Central Eagles 96-52. As this afternoon was the season-opener, both teams are currently unranked.
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs face the Houston Cougars on their home court again on Friday, Nov. 8 at 6:00p.m. With it being so early into the season, the freshmen still have a lot to prove this season. This afternoon’s game was a first look at how the Georgia Lady Bulldogs dominated the court offensively against the NC Central Eagles.