University of Georgia
South Carolina
Lady Bulldogs Inch Past Gamecocks
February 16, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2012
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COLUMBIA, S.C. --- Jasmine James became the 32nd Lady Bulldog to score 1,000 points as No. 18 Georgia (20-6, 9-4) defeated the No. 25 South Carolina Gamecocks (19-7, 8-5), 61-59, in a nail-biter Thursday evening.
Jasmine Hassell led Georgia offensively with 18 points and also pulled down seven rebounds. Meredith Mitchell notched 15 points, four rebounds and two assists, and Khaalidah Miller recorded 11 points and a career-high six assists.
Anne Marie Armstrong added 10 points - none bigger than a pair of free throws with 4.8 seconds remaining - seven rebounds and a career-high five blocks, while James picked up seven points a a team-high eight rebounds.
"It was a well-played basketball game by both teams," said head coach Andy Landers. "It basically was what we thought it might be. Both teams played good defense; both teams rebounded the ball. Everything across the board was really, really close. We gave up more threes than we would have like to have given up. Other than that, it was really close right down to the final score."
Georgia was 50 percent for the night from the field, compared to South Carolina's 35.6 percent. Both teams were 9-of-14 from the charity stripe.
South Carolina started the game with an 11-2 run and led by nine on two occasions, most recently with 14:23 left in the half. Georgia started a push of its own and tied the game, 21-21, eight minutes later.
The Lady Bulldogs took their first lead with five minutes on the clock off a layup by Mitchell. Georgia kept the game close the rest of the period, and entered the locker room trailing by two, 31-29.
In the fist half, Georgia connected on 44.4 percent from the field, while the Gamecocks shot 38.7 percent.
South Carolina scored the first points of the second period, but Georgia went on a hot streak soon after. The Lady Bulldogs took the lead, 34-33, just two minutes into the half when James was fouled on a jumper and then connected on a free throw. Georgia then had a 10-4 run that lasted six minutes and put the Lady Bulldogs up 44-37.
The Gamecocks had a 8-4 push of their own to to pull within three, 48-45, before a James jumper put Georgia back up by five. Those two points gave James her 1,000th and 1,001st career points.
South Carolina pulled within two, 52-50, with four minutes remaining, which is the closest they came to Georgia since it took the lead early in the half. Two and a half minutes later, the Lady Bulldogs were back up 58-53.
A pair of free throws with 1:15 on the clock pulled the Gamecocks within three, 58-55. Seconds later Miller went to the charity stripe and put Georgia up by four.
South Carolina tied the game, 59-59, with 12 ticks left on the clock. Armstrong connected on two free throws with 4.8 seconds remaining to put Georgia up 61-59. The Gamecocks missed a trey at the buzzer and the Lady Bulldogs came away with their fourth straight win.
The Lady Bulldogs continue their road swing this Sunday, when they travel to Gainseville, Fla., to take on the Florida Gators at 3:30 p.m. Georgia returns home on Feb. 23 to host the Ole Miss Rebels at 7 p.m.
