[break] [break] Freshman Mackenzie Engram paced Georgia (17-4, 5-3 SEC) with 14 points, including 12 in the first half, while Krista Donald added 12. Jordan Reynolds led Tennessee (17-3, 7-0 SEC) with 15 points.
[break] [break] Both teams put up runs with double-digit advantages in each half.
[break] [break] After Tennessee led 11-5, a 17-3 spurt put Georgia up by eight. The Lady Volunteers counted with a 14-0 run and led 30-25 at halftime.
[break] [break] The Lady Bulldogs held Tennessee scoreless for more than eight minutes during a 10-0 run to open the second stanza. The Lady Volunteers finally scored on a stickback by Cierra Burdick at the 11:48 mark and quickly regained a 42-35 edge just two and a half minutes later.
[break] [break] The Lady Bulldogs led for the last time at 45-44 after on a Pachis Roberts 3-pointer with 7:01 left, but a three-point play by Isabelle Harrison with one second left on the shot clock opened Tennessee’s decisive surge soon thereafter.
[break] [break] That was one of five three-point plays by Tennessee in the game. The Lady Volunteers made their first 20 free throws of the day before finally missing with 46 seconds left. Georgia was only 3-of-7 at the line.
[break] [break] “Defensively, I thought we accomplished our objectives as much as a coach can reasonably expect, and this was a difficult job,” head coach Andy Landers said. “That’s a difficult proposition, to guard guys who can stretch you and beat you inside like Tennessee can. We defended very well. The only negative I take away from it is how many times they went to the line.”
[break] [break] Georgia played the final 22:42 of the game without leading scorer Shacobia Barbee. Barbee injured her right leg driving to the basket with 2:42 left in the opening period and did not return.
[break] [break] “The kids took the challenge at halftime,” Landers said. “I think they knew that they were going to have play it out without Cobi. They came out, sparked themselves and went on a terrific run.”
[break] [break] Georgia will enjoy an open date on Thursday before traveling to No. 14 Kentucky next Sunday. That contest will tip at 1 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network.
[break] [break] The Lady Bulldogs will return to Stegeman Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 5 to host top-ranked South Carolina at 7 p.m. The first 250 UGA students in attendance at the game will receive Georgia “beanie” hats, the first 100 students will receive free pizza and 50 random students will receive gift cards to Chipotle. The game also will air on the SEC Network and first
[break] [break] Single-game reserved seat tickets for Lady Bulldog games are $5 for adults and $3 for children. UGA students, faculty and staff are admitted to all Lady Bulldog games free of charge with a valid UGA Card. Faculty and staff should pick up tickets at the Coliseum box office. Students are admitted to the arena via the entrance to the left of the box office by showing their UGA Card.
[break] [break] Single-game tickets are on sale via georgiadogs.com, by calling 877-542-1231 or in person at the UGA Ticket Office in the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall from 8:30-4:30 on weekdays. In addition, single-game tickets go on sale at the Stegeman Coliseum box office (closest to Sanford Drive) beginning 60 minutes before tip-off of every home game.