Eleven different Lady Bulldogs scored, including four freshmen who totaled 47 points, to lift the Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team to a commanding 87-47 victory against the Howard Bison at Stegeman Coliseum on Tuesday.
In front of an electric crowd of 6,942 elementary school children and Lady Bulldog fans, the balanced spectacle featured a career-high 20 points from freshman guard Maya Caldwell. Senior Mackenzie Engram was the last Lady Bulldog freshman to score 20, which came against Coppin State in 2014.
Freshman Malury Bates complemented Caldwell, notching her first double-digit scoring output of her career with 11, adding a career-high seven rebounds. Capping the freshmen foursome were guards Que Morrison and Gabby Connally, who scored nine and seven points, respectively.
The 40-point difference marked the largest margin-of-victory for Georgia (10-1) this year, as nine Lady Bulldogs scored six or more points for the first time this season. Defensively, Georgia held Howard (3-7) to its second-lowest scoring output of the season, as well as the second-lowest field goal percentage (28.8 percent) of a Lady Bulldog opponent this year.
“We pride ourselves on being a good defensive team,” Georgia head coach Joni Taylor said. “We try to set defensive goals each quarter so once we saw the score the first quarter, allowing a lot of points, we said no more. Everything starts from the defensive end for us. To be who we want to be that’s where we have to start. We are so athletic, we have the ability to defend, and to deny the basketball.”
After establishing a 14-11 lead to close out the first quarter, Georgia controlled the second frame, outscoring the Bison 29-10. The 29-point outburst was one-point shy of the Lady Bulldogs’ highest point total in a quarter this season.
The first five minutes of the frame featured 13 unanswered points, including a pair of layups and a jumper from junior forward Caliya Robinson. With a little over two minutes remaining in the half, the Lady Bulldogs drove to a 9-1 run for the largest margin of the first half at 24 points. Senior Haley Clark and Bates hit jumpers, followed by a 3-pointer from senior guard Simone Costa, who posted a season-high eight points. Bates closed the first half Lady Bulldogs scoring output with a layup off the glass.
At the half, the Lady Bulldogs were right at 50-percent shooting (18-36), a first-half season best, while the Bison shot 26.9-percent from the floor.
A strong second quarter was topped by an even better third, as Georgia established its largest difference in a quarter, 28 to Howard’s eight. Morrison and redshirt sophomore Taja Cole drained 3-pointers within the first three minutes, and Georgia exploded with 17 points from seven different Lady Bulldogs, fending off any Howard points for 5:35. Caldwell closed out the third quarter with eight-straight points as Georgia led 71-29.
The fourth quarter featured more offensive action from the freshmen tandem of Bates, Connally and Caldwell for a combined 12 points. Sophomore Stephanie Paul, who had a career-high 10 rebounds, put up a final Georgia layup to seal the 87 Lady Bulldog points.
Up next, Georgia continues its five-game home stand at Stegeman Coliseum with Wright State on Thursday at 1 pm. The game will be available on SEC Network +.
In front of an electric crowd of 6,942 elementary school children and Lady Bulldog fans, the balanced spectacle featured a career-high 20 points from freshman guard Maya Caldwell. Senior Mackenzie Engram was the last Lady Bulldog freshman to score 20, which came against Coppin State in 2014.
Freshman Malury Bates complemented Caldwell, notching her first double-digit scoring output of her career with 11, adding a career-high seven rebounds. Capping the freshmen foursome were guards Que Morrison and Gabby Connally, who scored nine and seven points, respectively.
The 40-point difference marked the largest margin-of-victory for Georgia (10-1) this year, as nine Lady Bulldogs scored six or more points for the first time this season. Defensively, Georgia held Howard (3-7) to its second-lowest scoring output of the season, as well as the second-lowest field goal percentage (28.8 percent) of a Lady Bulldog opponent this year.
“We pride ourselves on being a good defensive team,” Georgia head coach Joni Taylor said. “We try to set defensive goals each quarter so once we saw the score the first quarter, allowing a lot of points, we said no more. Everything starts from the defensive end for us. To be who we want to be that’s where we have to start. We are so athletic, we have the ability to defend, and to deny the basketball.”
After establishing a 14-11 lead to close out the first quarter, Georgia controlled the second frame, outscoring the Bison 29-10. The 29-point outburst was one-point shy of the Lady Bulldogs’ highest point total in a quarter this season.
The first five minutes of the frame featured 13 unanswered points, including a pair of layups and a jumper from junior forward Caliya Robinson. With a little over two minutes remaining in the half, the Lady Bulldogs drove to a 9-1 run for the largest margin of the first half at 24 points. Senior Haley Clark and Bates hit jumpers, followed by a 3-pointer from senior guard Simone Costa, who posted a season-high eight points. Bates closed the first half Lady Bulldogs scoring output with a layup off the glass.
At the half, the Lady Bulldogs were right at 50-percent shooting (18-36), a first-half season best, while the Bison shot 26.9-percent from the floor.
A strong second quarter was topped by an even better third, as Georgia established its largest difference in a quarter, 28 to Howard’s eight. Morrison and redshirt sophomore Taja Cole drained 3-pointers within the first three minutes, and Georgia exploded with 17 points from seven different Lady Bulldogs, fending off any Howard points for 5:35. Caldwell closed out the third quarter with eight-straight points as Georgia led 71-29.
The fourth quarter featured more offensive action from the freshmen tandem of Bates, Connally and Caldwell for a combined 12 points. Sophomore Stephanie Paul, who had a career-high 10 rebounds, put up a final Georgia layup to seal the 87 Lady Bulldog points.
Up next, Georgia continues its five-game home stand at Stegeman Coliseum with Wright State on Thursday at 1 pm. The game will be available on SEC Network +.
