University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Falls, 67-44, to Iowa State
March 20, 2022 | Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa --- The sixth-seeded University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs Basketball team fell to the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones, 67-44, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday night.
With the loss, Georgia concludes its season 21-10 overall and 9-7 in the SEC. Iowa State (28-6, 14-4 Big 12) advances to the Sweet 16 and will face Creighton in Greensboro, South Carolina next week.
Graduate center Jenna Staiti led Georgia in both scoring and rebounds, with 16 points and nine boards. Fellow graduate guard Que Morrison followed with 10 points, while senior forward Malury Bates had six rebounds.
"Iowa State is a really good team, we knew that coming in," said head coach Joni Taylor. "We played in a great environment tonight and you've got to give them credit, they did what they do well, and we didn't have an answer."
An 11-0 Iowa State run kicked off the opening three minutes as the Cyclones held the Lady Bulldogs scoreless until the five-minute mark. Georgia answered back with seven points, but the Cyclones remained steady, ending the first quarter ahead, 23-7.
Despite an early trey from freshman Reigan Richardson and Staiti scoring six of Georgia's 11 second quarter points, Iowa State went into the locker room leading the Bulldogs, 37-18.
A foul drawn on Jordan Isaacs surged a 5-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs, as they slowed down Iowa State's pace through the 7:30 mark. At the first media, the Cyclones built a 19-point advantage over Georgia. To end the third, Iowa State was scoreless for three-straight minutes, missing their last six shots with four turnovers.
With a roaring crowd behind their backs, the Cyclones kept the lead for the final ten minutes to advance, 67-44, to the Sweet 16.