(Photo by John Kelley)
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia (19-11) will now face Tennessee in the tournament quarterfinals at Verizon arena on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Donald also scored 13 points, while Erika Ford added 14 and Mackenzie Engram chipped in 11.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia used an early 10-0 run to grab a 13-7 lead and withstood several rallies by the Tigers. The Lady Bulldogs never relinquished the lead the rest of the way, even though Missouri made it a one-possession game six times in the second half.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “I said it early in the year, this group has some resolve about them, even in the games we’ve lost,” head coach Andy Landers said. “I think that we’ve learned some lessons throughout the year about hurting ourselves and how not to and how to make plays and escape what have been treacherous situations.”
[su_spacer size=”20″] [su_spacer size=”20″] The Lady Bulldogs controlled the scoreboard much of the day.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Missouri jumped out to a 7-3 lead less than three minutes into the game. A Griffin 3-pointer with 16:08 on the clock pulled Georgia within a point and opened up the 10-0 run that covered 4:44. Griffin’s shot pushed her past Alexis Kendrick into the No. 10 position among the Lady Bulldogs’ career leaders for 3-pointers made with 145.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Lady Bulldogs pushed their advantage to double digits at 25-14 with 5:38 left in the half before the Tigers chipped away to close that gap to 32-27 at the intermission.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia started the second half quickly and regained a 38-29 edge, leading to a Missouri timeout at the 17:56 mark.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Tigers then embarked on a an 8-2 run to pull within 40-39 with 13:30 remaining. A pair of Erika Ford free throws followed by a Donald tip-in pushed the margin back to five at 44-39.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Missouri made it a one-possession game again at 44-41, 46-44 and 56-54. A Morgan Stock 3-pointer rimmed out with 4:07 left and Griffin and Ford jumpers quickly gave the Lady Bulldogs breathing room at 60-54.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Down the stretch, Georgia made 12 straight free throws, a large chunk of the Lady Bulldogs’ 26-of-29 effort from the line. The Lady Bulldogs lead grew to 74-62, the largest of t;he night, icing the game with 34 seconds remaining.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia (19-11) will now face Tennessee in the tournament quarterfinals at Verizon arena on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Donald also scored 13 points, while Erika Ford added 14 and Mackenzie Engram chipped in 11.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia used an early 10-0 run to grab a 13-7 lead and withstood several rallies by the Tigers. The Lady Bulldogs never relinquished the lead the rest of the way, even though Missouri made it a one-possession game six times in the second half.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “I said it early in the year, this group has some resolve about them, even in the games we’ve lost,” head coach Andy Landers said. “I think that we’ve learned some lessons throughout the year about hurting ourselves and how not to and how to make plays and escape what have been treacherous situations.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Lady Bulldogs controlled the scoreboard much of the day.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Missouri jumped out to a 7-3 lead less than three minutes into the game. A Griffin 3-pointer with 16:08 on the clock pulled Georgia within a point and opened up the 10-0 run that covered 4:44. Griffin’s shot pushed her past Alexis Kendrick into the No. 10 position among the Lady Bulldogs’ career leaders for 3-pointers made with 145.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Lady Bulldogs pushed their advantage to double digits at 25-14 with 5:38 left in the half before the Tigers chipped away to close that gap to 32-27 at the intermission.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia started the second half quickly and regained a 38-29 edge, leading to a Missouri timeout at the 17:56 mark.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Tigers then embarked on a an 8-2 run to pull within 40-39 with 13:30 remaining. A pair of Erika Ford free throws followed by a Donald tip-in pushed the margin back to five at 44-39.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Missouri made it a one-possession game again at 44-41, 46-44 and 56-54. A Morgan Stock 3-pointer rimmed out with 4:07 left and Griffin and Ford jumpers quickly gave the Lady Bulldogs breathing room at 60-54.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Down the stretch, Georgia made 12 straight free throws, a large chunk of the Lady Bulldogs’ 26-of-29 effort from the line. The Lady Bulldogs lead grew to 74-62, the largest of t;he night, icing the game with 34 seconds remaining.