University of Georgia Athletics
Tuesday, December 21
Athens, Ga.
12:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
11-1,0-0SEC
89
vs
50
South Alabama
6-7,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
South Alabama
11
15
13
11
50
Georgia
19
28
24
18
89
Team Stats
USA
UGa
FG%
.345
.554
3FG%
.263
.167
FT%
.500
.938
RB
27
43
TO
21
15
STL
3
12
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballGeorgia Closes Non-Conference Slate With 89-50 Win Over South Alabama
December 21, 2021 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. — A dominant second-quarter offensive showing helped the No. 13-ranked Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team to an 89-50 win over the South Alabama Jaguars this afternoon in Stegeman Coliseum.
Jenna Staiti led all scorers with 17, while Malury Bates matched her season-high with 12. Georgia shot 55 percent from the floor and held its opponent to 50 points for the seventh time this season. The Lady Bulldogs improve to 11-1, and the Jaguars fell to 6-7.
"Our young ladies haven't been home," shared head coach Joni Taylor. "And they know they're going home today, so you're always concerned that they're not thinking ahead to their flight they have to catch or not getting in the stands and being with their family. I thought we showed really good focus, and we were focused on that task at hand."
The Lady Bulldog offense struck first following a Staiti lay-up off an assist from Que Morrison. Moments after, Sarah Ashlee Barker drilled a three-point attempt after gliding past her defender. Georgia forced seven turnovers in the first quarter and finished with a 19-11 lead.
The Lady Bulldogs kept up the offensive pressure in the second quarter. Barker opened second quarter scoring with a drive to the basket and smooth finish. Following a steal, Bates knocked down a jumper to grab her first of six points in the quarter. Georgia led South Alabama at halftime, 47-26.
Staiti signature jumper in the paint open second-half scoring for the Lady Bulldogs as they pulled away to a 32-point lead. Georgia ended the third quarter up 71-39.
A 6-0 run to finish the fourth quarter saw the Lady Bulldogs end their non-conference play with a convincing win.
Next up, Georgia opens SEC conference play against western opponents LSU on Thursday, December 30th at 7:00 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum. Coverage will be on SEC Network Plus.
Team Notes
Individual Notes
Head Coach Joni Taylor
On today's game …
"I thought it was a good one for us. You always worry about the last one before Christmas. Number one, South Alabama is a really worthy opponent. They shoot the three ball at a really high clip and so you worry about taking them out of what you want to do. But, also, our young ladies haven't been home. And so they know they're going home today. So, you just always are concerned that they're not thinking ahead to their flight they have to catch or getting in the stands and being with their family. I thought we showed really good focus and focused at the task at hand."
On focus before conference play …
"We'll start looking at LSU here during the break but obviously every time you go into conference play the SEC is physical. It's tough. It's talented. It's well coached. So, we've got to make sure that we're continuing to just get better every day. Defensively, we're giving up some stuff we're giving up right now. Offensively, we're missing some bunnies around the basket that we've got to capitalize on to continue to play well once we start SEC play."
On the break before conference play …
"It feels great (to be on break). I'm excited to go home and spend time with our family. They're the ones that get the short end of the stick this time of year. So, to be done on the 21st and have some days with Darius (Taylor) and the girls and our family is going to be a lot of fun. I'm just excited we were able to handle playing three games in six days. That's what gets you ready for conference play. That's what the tournament is going to be like and so it's done that way on purpose, by design. You want to see who can show up and be consistent and be locked in. But I think we're all ready to go home to our families."
On what the team learned in non-conference play…
"I think it is more confirmation than learning. We have a veteran team returning. Obviously, we have four newcomers, but everybody else is back, so you kind of know what you know about them. I think as we are getting more into our freshmen playing games, I've learned that they are coming out every single day, wanting to be better and taking advantage of opportunities. That's something that we already knew. this team is really tough, right? they play hard. They play tough. they have a no flinch mentality, and that's shown up a few times. we've had overtime games and lost a heartbreaker. In all of those situations, they executed, didn't flinch and made plays down the stretch. I think it's more of a confirmation of who we are, versus who we thought we were."
On what you look forward to over the holiday break…
"We are going to go to the botanical gardens here on campus, to see the light show at some point. Darius and I are going to take the girls ice skating at some point during this trip. Jacie has been ice skating before, Drew hasn't, so we are going to do that or probably go to Athens Skate Inn. Just some fun things planned with them. My brother is coming to town. My parents are already here. Excited to just chill, put on some sweatpants and not do anything."
#22 Malury Bates | Sr. | F
On what the team is focused on getting ready for heading into SEC play…
"We're taking it one game at a time. We want to hopefully have this momentum carry into SEC play. We're staying locked-in, trying to stay disciplined. That's basically it, just taking it game by game."
On her initial thoughts on the game…
"I'm happy we came out and did what we're supposed to do as a team. It's just great momentum going into the break. Hopefully, we stay focused over the break and go into SEC play with the right mindset and be focused."
Jenna Staiti led all scorers with 17, while Malury Bates matched her season-high with 12. Georgia shot 55 percent from the floor and held its opponent to 50 points for the seventh time this season. The Lady Bulldogs improve to 11-1, and the Jaguars fell to 6-7.
"Our young ladies haven't been home," shared head coach Joni Taylor. "And they know they're going home today, so you're always concerned that they're not thinking ahead to their flight they have to catch or not getting in the stands and being with their family. I thought we showed really good focus, and we were focused on that task at hand."
The Lady Bulldog offense struck first following a Staiti lay-up off an assist from Que Morrison. Moments after, Sarah Ashlee Barker drilled a three-point attempt after gliding past her defender. Georgia forced seven turnovers in the first quarter and finished with a 19-11 lead.
The Lady Bulldogs kept up the offensive pressure in the second quarter. Barker opened second quarter scoring with a drive to the basket and smooth finish. Following a steal, Bates knocked down a jumper to grab her first of six points in the quarter. Georgia led South Alabama at halftime, 47-26.
Staiti signature jumper in the paint open second-half scoring for the Lady Bulldogs as they pulled away to a 32-point lead. Georgia ended the third quarter up 71-39.
A 6-0 run to finish the fourth quarter saw the Lady Bulldogs end their non-conference play with a convincing win.
Next up, Georgia opens SEC conference play against western opponents LSU on Thursday, December 30th at 7:00 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum. Coverage will be on SEC Network Plus.
Team Notes
- The Lady Dogs outscored the Jaguars 89-50 in the final matchup before conference play. The win advances Georgia's record to 4-0 against South Alabama.
- During the first quarter, the Lady Dogs went on a 13-0 run while forcing six turnovers during a 4:28 South Alabama scoring drought.
- In the middle of the second quarter, Georgia went on a 13-2 run while forcing a 2:43 Jaguar scoring drought.
- To open the second half, the Bulldogs went on a 13-2 run and while going 4-for-4 on field goals.
- Three Bulldogs were in double-digit scoring. Jenna Staiti led the team with 17 followed by Malury Bates and Jillian Hollingshead with 12.
- Georgia out-rebounded South Alabama 43 to 27. 13 of the Bulldogs' rebounds were on offense while 30 were on defense.
- The Lady Dogs had their best outing from the free-throw line by sinking 15 of 16 attempts (94%).
- The Bulldogs matched their season-high of assists (28). The team was led by Sarah Ashlee Barker and Que Morrison who both tallied five.
Individual Notes
- Sophomore Sarah Ashlee Barker notched nine points and has made a three-point basket in eight consecutive games. Barker also tied her career-high of five assists.
- Redshirt Senior Malury Bates matched her season-high by scoring 12 points.
- Freshman Jillian Hollingshead scored a career-high 12 points and was perfect on all of her shot attempts.
Head Coach Joni Taylor
On today's game …
"I thought it was a good one for us. You always worry about the last one before Christmas. Number one, South Alabama is a really worthy opponent. They shoot the three ball at a really high clip and so you worry about taking them out of what you want to do. But, also, our young ladies haven't been home. And so they know they're going home today. So, you just always are concerned that they're not thinking ahead to their flight they have to catch or getting in the stands and being with their family. I thought we showed really good focus and focused at the task at hand."
On focus before conference play …
"We'll start looking at LSU here during the break but obviously every time you go into conference play the SEC is physical. It's tough. It's talented. It's well coached. So, we've got to make sure that we're continuing to just get better every day. Defensively, we're giving up some stuff we're giving up right now. Offensively, we're missing some bunnies around the basket that we've got to capitalize on to continue to play well once we start SEC play."
On the break before conference play …
"It feels great (to be on break). I'm excited to go home and spend time with our family. They're the ones that get the short end of the stick this time of year. So, to be done on the 21st and have some days with Darius (Taylor) and the girls and our family is going to be a lot of fun. I'm just excited we were able to handle playing three games in six days. That's what gets you ready for conference play. That's what the tournament is going to be like and so it's done that way on purpose, by design. You want to see who can show up and be consistent and be locked in. But I think we're all ready to go home to our families."
On what the team learned in non-conference play…
"I think it is more confirmation than learning. We have a veteran team returning. Obviously, we have four newcomers, but everybody else is back, so you kind of know what you know about them. I think as we are getting more into our freshmen playing games, I've learned that they are coming out every single day, wanting to be better and taking advantage of opportunities. That's something that we already knew. this team is really tough, right? they play hard. They play tough. they have a no flinch mentality, and that's shown up a few times. we've had overtime games and lost a heartbreaker. In all of those situations, they executed, didn't flinch and made plays down the stretch. I think it's more of a confirmation of who we are, versus who we thought we were."
On what you look forward to over the holiday break…
"We are going to go to the botanical gardens here on campus, to see the light show at some point. Darius and I are going to take the girls ice skating at some point during this trip. Jacie has been ice skating before, Drew hasn't, so we are going to do that or probably go to Athens Skate Inn. Just some fun things planned with them. My brother is coming to town. My parents are already here. Excited to just chill, put on some sweatpants and not do anything."
#22 Malury Bates | Sr. | F
On what the team is focused on getting ready for heading into SEC play…
"We're taking it one game at a time. We want to hopefully have this momentum carry into SEC play. We're staying locked-in, trying to stay disciplined. That's basically it, just taking it game by game."
On her initial thoughts on the game…
"I'm happy we came out and did what we're supposed to do as a team. It's just great momentum going into the break. Hopefully, we stay focused over the break and go into SEC play with the right mindset and be focused."
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