University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Morgan State
Georgia Rolls over Morgan State in Opener
November 14, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Shacobia Barbee and head coach Andy Landers talk about Friday night's win.
Nov. 14, 2014
ATHENS, Ga. --- Led by Tiaria Griffin's 20-point outing, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs recorded a decisive 68-36 win over Morgan State in their season opener at Stegeman Coliseum on Friday night.
Griffin and Merritt Hempe, both juniors, led the team in scoring and rebounds, respectively. Griffin posted 20 points, including three 3-pointers, and also added five rebounds and two assists. Hempe was also in the double-digits, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven boards.
Fourteen of Georgia's 16 players saw time on the court in the game in which Georgia never trailed or tied.
"It was good that we were able to play the minutes that we did," head coach Andy Landers said. "It was the last thing I told our players in the dressing room. I think you could play about the right number of minutes tonight given that we were going to turn around and play in the next 36 hours or so."
Georgia recorded its first points of the season on an early layup by Griffin and never looked back. After jumping to a 12-5 lead in the first seven minutes of the game, Georgia used a Nasheema Oliver basket to spark a 14-0 run.
The Lady Bulldogs closed the half with stout defense, recording four steals in the final three minutes, including two by Pachis Roberts. At halftime, Georgia held a commanding 30-13 lead thanks to baskets from eight different players.
"I thought our veterans played pretty good. I thought they were on point," Landers said. "I thought after they played four or five minutes, they lost some of their intensity in the first half. We challenged them right before the second half started to get back out and get back on point with it for the second half."
Shacobia Barbee opened the second half with a layup that set off another 14-2 Georgia run. Field goals by Roberts, Haley Clark, Oliver, Erika Ford, Mackenzie Engram and Krista Donald allowed the Lady Bulldogs to take a 41-point lead, their largest of the game. Morgan State finished the contest on a 9-0 run, bringing the final score to 68-36.
The Lady Bulldogs will return to action on Sunday when they take on TCU at 1 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
