The Georgia women’s basketball team defeated North Carolina A&T 73-63 on Thursday evening at the Corbett Center and improved to 8-1 on the year.
Redshirt-sophomore guard Taja Cole tied a career high with 15 points, veteran forwards Caliya Robinson and Mackenzie Engram each scored in double figures it help lead the Lady Bulldogs to victory.
In addition to three players in double figures for the Lady Bulldogs, North Carolina native Maya Caldwell had an impressive homecoming as she finished with eight points, including six in the fourth quarter.
“I told our players in the locker room that I was proud of the way we just gutted it out,” head coach Joni Taylor said. “During the last five minutes of the game, every player on the court for us made a play. That’s what it takes against a team like North Carolina A&T. This was a great test for us coming off a long break for finals, and I am pleased with how we responded.”
North Carolina A&T hit five of its first six shots out of the gate to take a 13-8 lead early in the first quarter, before a Simone Costa 3-pointer cut into the early Aggie advantage. Georgia came out sluggish and committed eight turnovers in the first 10 minutes.
A 3-point shot from Engram was the highlight of a 7-2 run for the Lady Bulldogs to begin the second quarter. NC A&T then took control from that point and was within one, 31-30, at the half. Engram led Georgia with seven points, while Costa and Robinson added six apiece in the first 20 minutes.
Two baskets from Cole and one from Robinson helped the Lady Bulldogs build a 39-34 advantage with 6:58 on the clock in the third. That lead can be credited to Cole, who finished with 10 points in the quarter.
The Aggies did not go away quietly. They hung tough thanks to Kala Green’s two 3-pointers and nine points total in the third. Still, the Lady Bulldogs led by a slim 51-48 margin going into the fourth.
Unfortunately for Georgia, Green was not finished. The Aggie sharpshooter finished with six 3-point baskets to keep her team in the game. Caldwell, playing in front of friends and family who made the short drive over from Charlotte, scored six-straight points in the fourth quarter to finally put Georgia up for good.
CLICK HERE for the full box score for the Georgia versus North Carolina A&T women’s basketball game.
The Lady Bulldogs return home to host Georgia Tech on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET and will round out non-conference play with four-straight home games.