University of Georgia
Arkansas
Lady Bulldogs Edge Arkansas in Overtime
February 03, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2011
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF)
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ATHENS, Ga. - The Georgia women's basketball team overcame a season-low first half scoring output on its way to a 57-54 overtime victory over Arkansas Thursday evening in Stegeman Coliseum.
Georgia charged back from an 11-0 deficit to start the game and trailed the Razorbacks just 22-20 at halftime. The Lady Bulldogs came alive in the second period to take the lead but would eventually find themselves in overtime, where Georgia outscored Arkansas 10-7 and held on for the win to remain perfect at home.
The Lady Bulldogs improve to 17-5 (7-2) while Arkansas falls to 16-6 (4-6).
"Tonight we defended them well, and they defended us well," said head coach Andy Landers. "We made a couple more plays than they did. We have to talk about how well our defense did in turning them over, and how well our offense played in not turning it over because those possessions are probably the difference in the basketball game."
Georgia was led on the night by Jasmine James' 14 points while Meredith Mitchell added 12. Porsha Phillips was just one off her career in rebounds with 18 to lead all players. That mark is also good for the highest output ever by a Georgia player against SEC competition.
Arkansas center Sarah Watkins grabbed a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds while Lyndsay Harris scored 22.
Georgia took its first lead of the game at 25-24 with 18:48 on the clock in the second half and went up by its largest margin of four, 38-34, with 12:14 left on a jumper for James. Arkansas came back to take the lead again as Harris hit one of her six threes to make it 44-42 in favor of the visitors with 4:05 remaining in regulation.
James hit a jumper and Phillips made one of two free throws to give the lead back to the Lady Bulldogs, 45-44, with 2:33 to go, but Harris drained another long-ranger to make it a 47-45 Arkansas lead in the back-and-forth affair. James hit a pair from the line with just under two to go, and that was the last scoring of the second half as the first 40 minutes went undecided at 47-47.
Georgia was in-bounding the ball with just three-tenths of a second to go, and freshman Khaalidah Miller caught and shot, hitting a three that would have given the Bulldogs the lead, but the officials ruled she didn't get it off in time and the teams were headed for OT.
Georgia had four different players score in extra time, including Miller - who made a three that counted that time around and pushed the Lady Bulldogs in front by three, 52-49, with 2:49 left. A jumper for Mitchell gave Georgia four-point lead at 54-50, but a lay-up from C'eira Ricketts would tie the game for the seventh time, 54-54, with 33 seconds to go. Georgia benefited from a pair of late Arkansas fouls and went 3-for-4 from the line in the final 13 seconds to earn the one-point win.
The Lady Bulldogs improve to 23-9 all-time in overtime games including six in a row, a streak that dates back to the 2005 season. Georgia improves to 25-4 in the series history vs. Arkansas.
The Bulldogs are next in action this Sun., Feb. 6 vs. Alabama for a 2 p.m. tip.
Notes
- With the win today, Georgia improves to a 25-4 lead overall and an 11-2 lead in Athens in the series with Arkansas.
- With the win today, the Lady Bulldogs continue their at home winning streak to 10.
- With the win today, Andy Landers is now one win shy of his 850th career victory as a collegiate head coach.
- With the win today, Porsha Phillips is now 130 points away from 1,000 points with the Lady Bulldogs.
- Porsha Phillips' 18 rebounds represents the most ever by a Lady Bulldog against SEC competition.
- Georgia improves to 23-9 all-time in overtime games, including winning its last six OT contests the past five seasons.
- With today's win, Porsha Phillips earned double-digits with 18 rebounds, the 13th of the season and 31st of her career.
- With today's win, Jasmine James earned double-digits with 14 points, the 13th of the season and 31st of her career.
- With today's win, Meredith Mitchell earned double-digits with 12 points, the eighth of the season and the 21st of her career.
Georgia Head Coach Andy Landers
"Tonight we defended them well, and they defended us well. We made a couple more plays than they did. We have to talk about how well our defense did in turning them over, and how well our offense played in not turning it over because those possessions are probably the difference in the basketball game."
"We kind of dodged the bullet with (Sarah) Watkins shooting free throws tonight. Normally she's a very good free throw shooter, but tonight she missed two or three. Defense was good on the inbounds play and Porsha (Phillips) got the ball and got it in. Tonight there were a lot of big shots. Khaalidah (Miller) was good, and I thought 'J.J.' (Jasmine James) was good penetrating into the paint and finishing. Meredith (Mitchell) kept the heat on them all night with her penetrations to the basket. That changed the way they defended us. Porsha late in the game at the free throw line was money, so that was good."
Arkansas Head Coach Tom Collen
"We had many many opportunities down the stretch, but turnovers killed us. We had a lot of kids out there playing with a lot of heart, trying to make plays and we just fell short."
"We just made too many mistakes and turnovers late in the game, but it was not for lack of effort that we lost. I'm not frustrated at them, I'm frustrated for them."
"Lyndsay Harris really kept us in the game time and time, shot after shot. She's really grown up and matured late in the game and showed a lot of effort recently, especially against Georgia this season."
"You can't falter late in the game. We missed free throws and turned the ball over too much. They're probably beating themselves up in the locker room over this, but you can't keep your head down after a game like this. This would've been a great great road win. I said from the beginning that this was going to be our toughest road game of the season, and I think from this point forward every game on our schedule is winnable. Hopefully Georgia will keep winning as well and make us look a little better."
