University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
18-5,10-5SEC
Florida
10-12,3-11SEC
Georgia Seniors Finish Perfect Against Florida, 95-80
February 28, 2021 | Women's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 17 University of Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball team beat the University of Florida, 95-80, for the second time this season Sunday at Exactech Arena.
Georgia completes the regular season 18-5 overall and 10-5 in the SEC. With Kentucky's loss against Ole Miss, Georgia has earned at least a four-seed and a double-bye in next week's SEC tournament.
Seniors Jenna Staiti and Maya Caldwell had breakout games offensively. Both players shot down their career and season high in points. Staiti scored 30 while Caldwell scored 27. It marked the first time since 2013 the Lady Bulldogs have scored 95 points in an SEC game.
Georgia's senior class hit another milestone, as they end their career as Bulldogs undefeated, 8-0, against the Gators.
"For us to get a win today after falling short on Thursday speaks to the resilience of this team and their ability to process, build and learn in real time, then prepare and get ready for the next game," said Head Coach Joni Taylor. "I think they understand how important it is to go into the tournament playing well, so they took care of their business today."
Georgia took an early lead in the first, allowing no points from Florida until the 7:53 minute mark. The Gators would turn it into a track meet for the two teams, with the lead going back and forth. Georgia ended the first quarter ahead 24-22, with 10 of those points coming from Staiti.
After suffering a scoring drought, the Lady Bulldogs came back again. Staiti, Caldwell, Que Morrison and Mikayla Coombs all contributing to a 6-0 run, they would end the first half trailing Florida, 41-39.
The third quarter was a tight contest between the Lady Bulldogs and the Gators. There were five lead changes throughout until Georgia took it and ran. The third ended with Georgia up 67-63.
The Lady Bulldogs started the fourth quarter hot on offense, opening up with 5-2 scoring run. Not looking back, they advanced on Florida's turnovers, holding them to a three-minute scoring drought and taking a 10-point lead. Georgia ended the fourth with a field goal percentage of 76.9 percent, 50 percent from the arc and were 87 percent for free throws in the fourth alone.
Georgia would take the second game of the season from Florida, 95-80.
