University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
5-2
Butler
4-2
Caldwell, Defense Lead Georgia to 69-36 Win
November 29, 2019 | Women's Basketball
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A season-best 17 points from junior guard Maya Caldwell paced the Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team in a 69-36 win against Butler to open the 2019 Daytona Invitational on Friday.
Butler — a team that averaged 72.6 points per game coming into Friday — was held to a season-low 36 points off just a 17-percent shooting effort. The Bulldogs from Indianapolis, which finished in third place of the 2018-19 BIG EAST standings with a 23-10 record — fell for just the second time this season.
In addition to Caldwell, Georgia junior guard Gabby Connally recorded her sixth double-figure scoring game of the year with 15 points off a 3-for-6 performance from the 3-point line. Freshman forward Javyn Nicholson played a season-best 17 minutes and scored a season-high nine points in the win.
The Lady Bulldogs are now 5-2 this season and will play Virginia Tech on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. ET.
"For the first time in a long time, I saw signs of that old Georgia defense that we are used to," head coach Joni Taylor said. "Coming into this game, we knew we had to take care of the basketball, and we were able to do that. Defensively, holding them below their season average was big for us. Our entire team stepped up today, and I am so proud of their effort and poise."
The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead after hitting three of their first four shots from the field. Caldwell led all scorers in the opening period with six as Georgia led 10-7 at the end of one.
Caldwell and Connally each reached double figures in scoring to lead the Lady Bulldogs in the first half. Caldwell's 12 points and Connally's 10 — including a pair of 3-pointers — helped Georgia build a 29-20 advantage at the end of the second quarter.
It was Nicholson's turn in the third frame as she scored five points in the period. The Lady Bulldogs also held the Bulldogs from Indianapolis scoreless for over four minutes, while Georgia hit four of its last five shots to take a 50-29 lead going into the fourth.
Georgia went on a 7-0 run midway through the final frame to put the game out of reach. Senior forward Stephanie Paul scored six points in the first five minutes of the period, before Caitlin Hose's 3-pointer put the Lady Bulldogs up 63-33 at the 4:30 mark.
The Lady Bulldogs finished the game with a 47-percent clip from the field, hitting 27-of-58, compared to Butler's 8-of-46 performance from the field. Butler also hit just 20-of-33 from the free-throw line.
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