WBB Preview: Georgia vs. Auburn

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WBB Preview: Georgia vs. Auburn

Jan 3, 2020; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Jala Jordan (14) shoots as Georgia Lady Bulldogs center Jenna Staiti (14) defends during during the game between Auburn and Georgia at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood/AU Athletics
Jan 3, 2020; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Jala Jordan (14) shoots as Georgia Lady Bulldogs center Jenna Staiti (14) defends during during the game between Auburn and Georgia at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood/AU Athletics

#24/25 Georgia Lady Bulldogs (14-4, 6-4 SEC) vs. Auburn Tigers (5-13, 0-10 SEC)

Thursday, Feb. 11 | 7 p.m. ET | Stegeman Coliseum (1,638) | Athens, Ga. 

Watch: SEC Network + (Matt Stewart and Christy Thomaskutty)

 

 

 

 

Watch LinkClick Here

Listen: Georgia Bulldogs Sports Network (Jeff Dantzler)

*960 AM The REF, WXKT 103.7 FM in Athens or via the Georgia Bulldogs App

 

 

 

 

Opening Tip Storylines

• Georgia returns home after back-to-back road trips to host the Auburn Tigers at 7 p.m. Thursday in Stegeman Coliseum. 

• The contest is the Lady Bulldogs’ annual Play4Kay Pink Game, with fans encouraged to wear pink in honor of breast cancer awareness. 

• Georgia is ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press Poll, No. 25 in the Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the NET rankings. The Lady Bulldogs have three wins against teams ranked 25th or better in the NET rankings. 

• The Lady Bulldogs have won six of the last seven meetings against Auburn and have not lost in Athens to the Tigers since a 44-26 defeat back in 2015. Georgia defeated Auburn, 76-44, earlier this year. 

• The Tigers are led by one of the best players in the SEC and in the country. Unique Thompson averages a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds per game.

• Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy was an assistant coach at Georgia from 1996-2002. During her time on Coach Andy Landers’ staff, she helped Georgia capture two SEC regular season titles, a SEC tournament championship in 2001 and a NCAA Final Four berth in 1999.

• Georgia senior guard Que Morrison was named the SEC Co-Player of the Week following her performance at Alabama. Morrison scored a career-high 25 points, including 19 in the second half. The Riverdale, Ga., native also totaled a career-best five steals. 

• Georgia is the only SEC team to rank in the top-5 of the league in every defensive category —  scoring defense (2nd; 59.3 ppg), field-goal percentage defense (4th; .371), 3-point field goal percentage defense (3rd; .258), steals (4th; 9.5 per game) and blocked shots (2nd; 6.1 per game). 

• The Lady Bulldogs lead the SEC in free-throw percentage, knocking in 76.1 percent from the stripe this season. 

Series Breakdown

Overall: Georgia leads, 32-19

In Athens: Georgia leads, 19-5

In Auburn: Tied, 11-11

Neutral Sites: Auburn leads, 3-2

Current Streak: Georgia has won six of the last seven meetings

Last Meeting: Georgia won, 76-44 (1/3/21) in Auburn

Largest Margin of Victory: 34 points,Georgia won, 95-61 (1/18/86)

Largest Defeat: 30 points, Auburn won, 82-52 (1/13/08)

Historical Hidden Figures

In honor of Black History Month, the SEC is highlighting pioneers and trailblazers in our sport. Cynthia Collins and Bernadette Locke (Mattox) were the first two African-Americans recruited to enroll at UGA and play for the Lady Bulldogs on scholarship. They were teammates on Andy Landers’ first Georgia team in 1979-80. Each set a standard of excellence for countless Lady Bulldogs and young women who followed. 

Georgia Notables

In The Paint And On The Move

Georgia has been an improved team on the offensive end compared to last season, upping its points per game by nearly 10 points and scoring 80 or more points five times.  

Two reasons for that success include scoring in transition and in the paint. The Lady Bulldogs have outscored their opponents in transition in all but two games and have owned an advantage in the paint in 11 of 18 contests. 

Turnovers Improve Against Tide

Georgia committed a season-low 13 turnovers in the win against Alabama last Thursday. The Lady Bulldogs took care of the ball when it mattered most, committing just four turnovers in the second half and overtime period. 

Steady Staiti Reaching 1,000

Lady Bulldog senior center Jenna Staiti needs just 88 points to reach the 1,000 point mark for her career. This past Thursday, Staiti crossed the 500-rebound mark. She is looking to become just the eighth Lady Bulldog to record 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds and 150 blocks. All seven of the previous Georgia players to accomplish that feat (Katrina McClain, Tracy Henderson, Tammye Jenkins, Christi Thomas, Tawana McDonald, Angel Robinson and Caliya Robinson) earned All-SEC honors. 

Staiti Is SEC’s Top Shot-Blocker

Jenna Staiti leads all SEC players and is fourth nationally with 54 total blocks (3.0 per game). Staiti has totaled five or more blocks three times and has swatted three or more shots in 12 games. 

Morrison Does It All

Senior guard Que Morrison is one of the top all-around players in the SEC. The four-year starter ranks in the top-15 among SEC players in assists (3.4 per game), steals (2.2 per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5). The 2020 SEC All-Defensive Team selection has stepped it up offensively this season, scoring over 20 points twice this year — both for the first time in her career. 

Georgia Plays Deep Rotation

The Lady Bulldogs feature one of the deepest teams in the SEC. Georgia has played 10 or more players in all but two games (vs. Georgia Tech and LSU) and 11 or more players in 12 of 18 contests this season. 

Lady Bulldogs Hit 60 Percent

Georgia has shot over 60 percent from the field twice this season, doing so in games against Mercer and Appalachian State. Prior to this season, Georgia had not shot 60 percent or better in a game since 2009. 

Georgia Senior Guards Heat Up

Seniors Que Morrison and Gabby Connally combined to hit 12 three-pointers and totaled 67 points in Georgia’s three wins against Florida, Tennessee and Ole Miss. The two combined to hit just five 3-pointers in the first two SEC games of the year. 

 

 

 

 

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