Spring Break
Lady Dogs down Wildcats, keep NCAA chances alive
RYNE DENNIS
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
Big Blue is beginning to see a lot of red and black as the Georgia women's basketball team defeated the Kentucky Wildcats for the second time in eight days.
Just one day after the men's team went to Lexington and upset Kentucky, the Lady Bulldogs met them in the SEC tournament and won convincingly, 82-64.
"We certainly had some people step up and make some big plays," Georgia coach Andy Landers said in a television interview following the game. "I'm pleased, but certainly not satisfied."
In its last contest against Kentucky on Feb. 25, Georgia's Ashley Houts set a career high with 26 points. Thursday she torched the Wildcats once again, pouring in 22 points this time to go with five assists. Christy Marshall and Porsha Phillips also contributed big numbers with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Center Angel Robinson posted her eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Angela Puleo also provided a spark down the stretch with two important 3-pointers.
"Marshall played well offensively, Puleo knocked down three or four balls in the second half and really sparked us with a couple of shots," Landers said. "Houts is Houts, and she's tough, and Porsha Phillips has a knack for making the hard plays for us."
Georgia shot its highest percentage of the year, draining 63 percent of its shots from the field and a whopping 78 percent from behind the 3-point line.
But it wasn't until halfway through the second half until Georgia (18-12, 8-7 SEC) started to pour it on. Trailing 30-29 to start the second half, the Lady Dogs came out sluggish and fell behind 42-33. But following a media timeout, Georgia went on a 12-0 run to take the lead for good. Kentucky (15-15, 5-10) could only pull to within 47-46 before Georgia finished on a 35-18 run to close the contest.
"The first five minutes of the second half were pretty ugly," assistant coach Kim Hairston said in a radio interview. "After that first media timeout we went out there and got some turnovers, knocked some balls down and got some easy baskets."
The victory undoubtedly keeps Georgia's hopes alive of making the NCAA tournament. The Lady Dogs are on the bubble and had to have this victory if it had any chance of making it. With a victory tonight over the No. 21 Vanderbilt Commodores, Georgia might be more assured of a spot in the tournament.
"We're fighting and growing and this is a great time to be doing that," Hairston said. "We know Vandy, we know what they're going to do, we know their personnel, so we just got to go out there and defend and bring our A-game."
Just one day after the men's team went to Lexington and upset Kentucky, the Lady Bulldogs met them in the SEC tournament and won convincingly, 82-64.
"We certainly had some people step up and make some big plays," Georgia coach Andy Landers said in a television interview following the game. "I'm pleased, but certainly not satisfied."
In its last contest against Kentucky on Feb. 25, Georgia's Ashley Houts set a career high with 26 points. Thursday she torched the Wildcats once again, pouring in 22 points this time to go with five assists. Christy Marshall and Porsha Phillips also contributed big numbers with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Center Angel Robinson posted her eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Angela Puleo also provided a spark down the stretch with two important 3-pointers.
"Marshall played well offensively, Puleo knocked down three or four balls in the second half and really sparked us with a couple of shots," Landers said. "Houts is Houts, and she's tough, and Porsha Phillips has a knack for making the hard plays for us."
Georgia shot its highest percentage of the year, draining 63 percent of its shots from the field and a whopping 78 percent from behind the 3-point line.
But it wasn't until halfway through the second half until Georgia (18-12, 8-7 SEC) started to pour it on. Trailing 30-29 to start the second half, the Lady Dogs came out sluggish and fell behind 42-33. But following a media timeout, Georgia went on a 12-0 run to take the lead for good. Kentucky (15-15, 5-10) could only pull to within 47-46 before Georgia finished on a 35-18 run to close the contest.
"The first five minutes of the second half were pretty ugly," assistant coach Kim Hairston said in a radio interview. "After that first media timeout we went out there and got some turnovers, knocked some balls down and got some easy baskets."
The victory undoubtedly keeps Georgia's hopes alive of making the NCAA tournament. The Lady Dogs are on the bubble and had to have this victory if it had any chance of making it. With a victory tonight over the No. 21 Vanderbilt Commodores, Georgia might be more assured of a spot in the tournament.
"We're fighting and growing and this is a great time to be doing that," Hairston said. "We know Vandy, we know what they're going to do, we know their personnel, so we just got to go out there and defend and bring our A-game."
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