Georgia women’s basketball turned back in final seconds of SEC tourney title clash
ATHENS — Georgia’s run for an SEC tournament championship came to an end at the hands of women’s basketball juggernaut South Carolina, but not before the Lady Bulldogs served notice they’re a program on the rise.
The No. 7-ranked Gamecocks (22-4) turned back the No. 16-ranked Lady Bulldogs (20-6) by a 67-62 count on Sunday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.
Que Morrison, one of UGA’s four senior starters, hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to draw 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 showed us how close we are,” Sixth-year UGA coach Joni Taylor said. “A couple of balls bounce another way, a couple of calls go another way ….. this weekend showed what we are capable of.”
It’s South Carolina’s sixth SEC tourney title in the last seven years. It’s also the Gamecocks’ 14th straight win over Georgia dating back to 2013 when Andy Landers was the UGA head coach.
Sunday’s game marked the first time in the SEC tournament history finals that two black head coaches faced off in the title game.
.@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 intent on reversing the series trend. UGA shot 52 percent the first 20 minutes, leading most of the first half before the teams went to halftime tied up at 35-35.
The Gamecocks took control with a 9-0 run at the end of the third quarter, leading 52-43.
Georgia rallied behind Morrison, who scored 13 of her team-high 20 points in the second half and pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds. But the team was unable to draw closer than 3 points.
Staiti and Lady Bulldogs made things tough in paint / SEC portal photo
“Nobody thought we’d be here,” said senior Jen Staiti, who had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, “so I’m really proud of this team and proud of our coaches.”
Staiti scored in double figures in all three of UGA’s SEC tournament games and was named to the all-tournament team along with fellow senior and teammate Maya Caldwell.
The teams now await the NCAA women’s basketball tournament selection show at 7 p.m. on March 15 (ESPN).
Georgia fans will be tuned in.
RISING POWER
Taylor has brought excitement and promise back to the program.
“We fell short, it stings, it hurts” Taylor said on Sunday. “But we’re not done playing basketball.”
Taylor, who turned 42 on Sunday, showed why she was named SEC Coach of the Year with the Lady Bulldogs’ deep run into this year’s league tourney.
Georgia made its first appearance in the SEC tournament championship game since 2004 by eliminating No. 1 seed Texas A&M on Saturday.
RELATED: Georgia women’s basketball team upsets No. 1 seed Texas A&M
Bulldogs football coach Kirby Smart and his wife, Mary Beth, were in attendance to see the history unfold on Sunday.
.@KirbySmartUGA supporting @CoachJoniTaylor and @UGA_WBB.
You love to see it 🐶 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 UGA from 1999-2003, including the 2001 team that won the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
While Taylor and her four senior starters will turn their immediate attention to the upcoming NCAA tournament, Georgia fans note the Lady Bulldogs’ future is bright with two McDonald’s All-American signees in the 2021 class.
Jillian Hollingshead (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Reigan Richardson (Huntersville, N.C.) are on board and provide optimist the Lady Bulldogs will be competing for the league title again next season.
The program is no doubt on a rise, improving from last season’s 17-14 mark, which included lopsided defeats of 88-53 and 89-56 to the Gamecocks last season.
Caldwell explained how UGA has established itself as a team to watch for in the NCAA tourney and moving forward.
“We work hard day in and day out, every practice,” Caldwell said this weekend. “ We get in the gym on our own, and the results show. We play for each other.”
