Spring Break
SEC title grab uncertain for Lady Dogs
KEVIN COPP
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Sports
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A loss to No. 3 Tennessee Sunday kept Georgia (21-8, 8-6 SEC) out of the top four seeds entering this week's SEC Tournament, meaning the fifth-seeded Bulldogs will have to play four games in four days to capture a tournament title.
A daunting task for any of the 12 SEC teams, this problem is especially acute for a Lady Bulldogs squad in which starters have accounted for 80 percent of the team's scoring and 76 percent of total minutes played this season.
Sophomore point guard Ashley Houts is leading the conference in minutes played per game with 36.4, but is ready to play a full 160 minutes if necessary next week.
"I don't want to stay in there and hurt us," Houts said. "I just want to be able to provide what this team needs."
Houts has played all 40 minutes in four straight contests and nine of the team's last 10.
While Houts is willing to play as long as is necessary, head coach Andy Landers cut practice down to an hour the week leading up to the tournament.
"Don't be surprised if I don't sub a little bit in ways that we haven't done before, even if it's just for a minute or two," Landers said.
The Lady Bulldogs have reason to hope they will be able to substitute liberally, at least in their first round contest, as they open against twelfth-seeded Alabama (8-21, 1-13).
Behind a then season-high 25 points from Tasha Humphrey, the Lady Bulldogs defeated Alabama 71-53 at Stegeman Coliseum on Jan. 20.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
SEC Tournament Round 1:No. 23 Georgia vs. Alabama
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Sommet Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Radio: AM 960 The Ref
If Georgia advances past the first round, the team will face fourth-seeded Kentucky (14-14, 8-6) in the quarterfinals, with a chance to avenge a 47-44 loss to the Lady Wildcats in Athens earlier this season.
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