[su_spacer size=”20″] Despite a career-high 13 points from junior forward Halle Washington, the Lady Bulldog basketball team fell to No. 23-ranked Michigan State, 66-45, at the Breslin Center on Wednesday. 
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia senior guard Shacobia Barbee tied for the team lead with 13 points, while Merritt Hempe scored seven. With the loss, Georgia falls to 1-1, while the Spartans improve to 2-0 with the win.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Each team shot below 40 percent for the game with Michigan State hitting 36 percent (19-of-53) and the Lady Bulldogs shooting just 26 percent (15-of-58) for the game.
[su_spacer size=”40″] It was a tale of two quarters in the first half of play with Michigan State jumping out to a commanding lead in the first period before Georgia stormed back before the half.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Following a Tiaria Griffin 3-pointer to open the game, the Spartans scored 21-straight points to take a commanding lead. MSU shot 60 percent in the opening quarter, including a 5-for-8 mark from behind the arc to jump ahead, 27-7.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Lady Bulldogs came storming back in the second quarter as the Spartans cooled off over the next 10 minutes.  Georgia climbed back into the game thanks to a 14-0 run and a near-8 minute scoreless streak by Michigan State to put the halftime score at 33-23 in favor of the Spartans.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Michigan State hit three of their first five shots and outscored Georgia, 12-7, to open the third period and extend the lead to 45-30 with 4:41 remaining in the period. The Lady Bulldogs could not recover down the stretch as MSU held on for the 66-45 win.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia now returns home to face Georgia Tech on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET at Stegeman Coliseum.
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