ATHENS – Georgia’s race for an SEC championship has come to an end in the hands of the South Carolina women’s basketball giant, but not before the Lady Bulldogs have notified it that it is on the rise.
Gamecocks ranked seventh (22-4) defeated Lady Bulldogs in 16th (20-6) by 67-62 on Sunday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC
That Morrison, one of the four senior UGA holders, hit a 3-point basket 15 seconds from time to tie the Lady Bulldogs with 3 points.
South Carolina was up to the final challenge. Aliyah Boston (27 points) hit two free throws with 13 seconds left to seal the victory.
“Today he showed us how close we are,” said UGA sixth-year coach Joni Taylor. “Some balls bounce differently, some calls go differently … this weekend showed what we are capable of.”
It is the SEC’s sixth tournament title in South Carolina in the past seven years. It is also Gamecocks’ 14th consecutive victory over Georgia, which dates back to 2013, when Andy Landers was the head coach of UGA.
Sunday’s game marked the first time in the SEC’s tournament finals that two black coaches faced each other in the game for the title.
.@dawnstaley reflects on a historic moment in women’s college basketball: pic.twitter.com/RBO6quBrAD
– SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 7, 2021
STRONG START
The Lady Bulldogs entered the game with the intention of reversing the trend of the series. UGA hit 52 percent in the first 20 minutes, leading most of the first half before the teams went into the break tied 35-35.
The Gamecocks took control with a 9-0 run at the end of the third quarter, taking 52-43.
Georgia rebounded behind Morrison, who scored 13 of his team’s 20 highest points in the second half and hit 8 rebounds. But the team failed to reach less than 3 points.
Staiti and Lady Bulldogs made things difficult in the painting / photo of the SEC portal
“Nobody thought we would be here,” said senior Jen Staiti, who scored 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks, “so I am very proud of this team and proud of our coaches.”
Staiti scored double digits in all three UGA SEC tournament games and was named to the team for all tournaments along with his senior colleague and teammate, Maya Caldwell.
The teams now await the NCAA women’s basketball tournament selection show at 7 pm on March 15 (ESPN).
Georgia fans will be tuned in.
INCREASING POWER
Taylor brought enthusiasm and promise back to the program.
“We fall short, it hurts, it hurts,” Taylor said on Sunday. “But we haven’t finished playing basketball yet.”
Taylor, who turned 42 on Sunday, showed why she was named SEC Coach of the Year with the Lady Bulldogs’ big run in this year’s league tournament.
Georgia made its first appearance in the SEC championship game since 2004, eliminating Texas No. 1 A&M on Saturday.
RELATED: Georgia’s Women’s Basketball Team Defeats Texas No. 1 A&M
Bulldog football coach Kirby Smart and his wife Mary Beth were present to watch the story unfold on Sunday.
.@KirbySmartUGA supporting @CoachJoniTaylor and @UGA_WBB.
You love to see 🐶 pic.twitter.com/nJdqU4VTOG
– SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 7, 2021
The head coach’s wife – then Mary Beth Lycett – is a former Miss Georgia Basketball and played for the 1999-2003 UGA, including the 2001 team that won the SEC’s women’s basketball tournament.
While Taylor and his four senior holders will turn their immediate attention to the next NCAA tournament, Georgia fans note that the future of the Lady Bulldogs is bright with two from McDonald’s All-American in the 2021 class.
Jillian Hollingshead (Powder Springs, Georgia) and Reigan Richardson (Huntersville, NC) are on board and provide optimism that the Lady Bulldogs will be competing for the league title again next season.
The program is undoubtedly on the rise, improving since last season’s 17-14 mark, which included unbalanced defeats of 88-53 and 89-56 for Gamecocks last season.
Caldwell explained how UGA established itself as a team to watch at the NCAA tournament and how to move on.
“We work hard day after day, every practice,” said Caldwell this weekend. “We entered the gym on our own and the results appear. We play for each other ”.
