Georgia head coach Joni Taylor directs her team from the sidelines during the Lady Bulldogs’ game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga. on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. (Photo by David Barnes)
The Tennessee Volunteers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as the Georgia women’s basketball team fell to the Lady Vols, 80-60, Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena up in Knoxville.
Georgia, which ends the regular season with seven wins in its last nine games, falls to 21-8 overall and 9-7 in SEC play. Tennessee improves to 17-12, 8-8 in the SEC.
Freshman Caliya Robinson led the Lady Bulldogs once again with 17 points, scoring in double figures for the second-straight game and the ninth time overall this season. In all, Georgia had eight players score in the game, while Tennessee had three players in double figures.
“We can’t come out against a team like Tennessee and not be focused offensively and defensively,” said Georgia head coach Joni Taylor. “Defensively we looked like we had not prepared for them at all. Against a good team, you just can’t give them that type of cushion.”
The Lady Bulldogs started slow on the offensive end, trailing 40-24 at halftime. Georgia spread out its scoring with six players pitching in, but 10 turnovers and 31-percent shooting from the floor limited the scoring output for the visitors.
Tennessee erupted for 40 points on Georgia in the first 20 minutes of play, shooting 46.2-percent against the Lady Dogs, including 4-for-11 behind the arc. Two Lady Vols reached double-digits before the break, with Diamond Deshields posting 14 points to lead the way.
The Lady Dogs were held at arm’s length after the third quarter, as the deficit grew to 59-42. Georgia picked it up on the offensive end with 18 points in the frame, led by Robinson with nine in the third quarter on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor. As a team, the Lady Bulldogs closed the frame on a 5-for-7 shooting spurt.
Georgia was unable to cut into the deficit further in the final quarter, falling on the road by an 80-60 final.
Georgia will next head to Jacksonville, Florida for the SEC Tournament, which begins on Wednesday. For all the latest on Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@UGA_WBB) and Instagram (@uga_wbb), and continue checking in to georgiadogs.com.
FINAL STATS
UGA TEAM UT
60 SCORE 80
42.6% FG% 32.8%
42.9% 3FG% 28.6%
80.0% FT% 76.5%
31 REB 44
18 ASST 21
22 TO 12
2 BLK 3
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