University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
10-8, 2-3
Kentucky
12-6, 3-2
Lady Bulldogs Fall 82-61 to Wildcats
January 15, 2017 | Women's Basketball
This package features an interview with head coach Joni Taylor talking about the game plan, where the team struggled, and how they can prepare for Florida at home next week.
Final Stats
| Georgia | TEAM | Kentucky |
| 61 | SCORE | 82 |
| 39.3% | FG% | 51.7% |
| 54.5% | 3FG% | 43.8% |
| 64.7% | FT% | 68.2% |
| 28 | REB | 38 |
| 12 | ASST | 18 |
| 12 | TO | 11 |
| 6 | BLK | 4 |
LEXINGTON, Ky. ---The Georgia Lady Bulldogs (10-8, 2-3) dropped an 82-61 contest to the Kentucky Wildcats (12-6, 3-2) Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.
"We let Evelyn (Akhator) score the first eight points of the game and Kentucky didn't look back," Georgia head coach Joni Taylor. "Then we started pressing on offense, doing things outside of what we are comfortable doing as far as forcing things on offense and continuing to let them score on the other end. We talk about that all the time, getting off to a good start and being on the road. We just haven't figured out how to come out and throw the first punch."
Redshirt senior Pachis Roberts led the way for Georgia with 20 points and six rebounds, both team bests. Junior guards Shanea Armbrister and Simone Costa supplied the Lady Bulldogs with 13 points and 10 points, respectively.
Kentucky's Evelyn Akhator led all scorers with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Three other Wildcats contributed double-digit scoring outputs to pace the Kentucky attack.
The Wildcats jumped out early on the Lady Bulldogs as they dominated the first quarter to the tone of 23-4. Kentucky improved its lead to 44-14 by the halfway mark in the contest. Wildcats' senior forward Akhator led all players with 17 points and 10 rebounds while fellow senior teammate Makayla Epps chipped in 12 points. Roberts had eight points and five rebounds, both team highs for the Lady Bulldogs.
In the second half, Georgia outscored Kentucky in both quarters but the Wildcats' cushion proved to be too much for the Lady Bulldogs to overcome. The Wildcats shot 52 percent from the floor compared to the 39 percent clip Georgia showcased in the game. At the foul line, UGA went 11-of-17 and UK shot 15-of-22.
"The third and fourth quarters were about winning the quarters, which we did," Taylor added. "That is what we talked about at halftime and whoever was on the floor was going to play hard and bring good energy and effort. I was proud of them for continuing to fight because this could of gotten a lot worse than what it was."
The Lady Bulldogs return to Athens for a two-game homestand starting with a matchup against the Florida Gators a week from today on Jan. 22nd. The tip-off is slotted for 1 p.m. ET and will be on SEC Network.
