University of Georgia Athletics
Lady Bulldogs Fall To Tech, 57-42
December 06, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Atlanta, Ga. --- Georgia Tech used an 18-6 run to open the second half and break open a tight game en route to a 57-42 win over Georgia (7-2) at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on Friday night.
Jaleesa Rhoden scored a career-high 13 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs, while Danielle Taylor chipped in 12.
The Yellow Jackets (7-2) pushed a 28-25 halftime edge to 46-31 with 12:45 remaining in the game. Though Tech would go nearly 12 minutes of the second half without a field goal, the Jackets maintained their advantage by connecting 14-of-21 free throws.
The Lady Bulldogs pulled with nine at 50-41 on a three-pointer by Angela Puleo with 6:30 left but could get no closer.
"We did not deserve to win," head coach Andy Landers said. "It's as simple as that. They took the ball away from us. We missed some easy shots inside. We just did not execute. It's frustrating."
The first half featured six ties and six lead changes as both teams struggled to get into a rhythm offensively. The Lady Bulldogs committed 13 turnovers in the period, while Tech had 11. Of the 24 combined turnovers by both teams, only five were forced by steals.
Georgia's bench -- and primarily the hot shooting of Rhoden -- kept the Lady Bulldogs in the game in the opening stanza by accounting for 18 of 25 points. She checked in when Christy Marshall picked up her second foul of the game on a technical at the 12:16 mark and played the rest of the half.
Rhoden knocked down a three from the left corner with 8:15 left in the half to give the Lady Bulldogs their largest lead of the period at 14-11. She then canned a second three and added a pair of jumpers to end the half with 10 points, just the second double-digit outing of her career.
The Lady Bulldogs will return to action on Monday when they travel to Rutgers for a 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 nationally televised matchup that is part of the Jimmy V Classic.
Georgia's next home game is Tuesday, Dec. 30 against Xavier.
Several promotions will be held in conjunction with that contest, including: Croc 'N New Year, with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving a pair of Georgia Crocs; Reading with the Dawgs, with local students who took part in the Lady Bulldogs' reading program receiving t-shirts and being recognized on-court during the contest; Youth League Day, with free admission to youth teams; Middle School Day, with free admission to middle school teams wearing their jerseys; and Varsity $1 tickets, with coupons for $1 admission available at The Varsity in Athens.
Reserved seat tickets for Lady Bulldog Basketball games are $5 for adults and $3 for youth. UGA faculty, staff and students are admitted to Lady Bulldog games free of charge with a valid UGA ID and can claim their tickets beginning an hour and a half prior to game time at Ticket Booth 4 at Stegeman Coliseum.
Tickets are available online at www.georgiadogs.com, by phone at 1-877-542-1231 or in person at the UGA Ticket Office in the Butts-Mehre Building from 8:30-4:30. Tickets go on sale on game days at Stegeman Coliseum Ticket Booths 1, 2 and 5 beginning 90 minutes prior to tip-off.
