In a thrilling encounter in Knoxville, Tennessee, Mia Woolfolk shone bright with 20 points, leading Georgia to a triumphant 72-69 victory over the 11th-ranked Tennessee team on Sunday. Her teammate, De’Mauri Flournoy, was instrumental as well, contributing 18 points to the win.
The game reached a pivotal moment in the fourth quarter when Tennessee seemed to seize control. Samara Spencer’s pivotal 3-pointer and a quick layup put the Lady Vols ahead at 60-57 with less than five minutes remaining. However, Tennessee struggled offensively, unable to make a field goal for over 3 1/2 minutes.
Georgia seized the opportunity to turn the tables. Woolfolk made a crucial jumper to tie the game with 2 1/2 minutes on the clock, followed closely by Roxane Makolo’s layup, pushing Georgia ahead to a 64-62 lead. Tennessee missed a critical shot in the paint soon after, allowing Woolfolk to increase Georgia’s lead to 66-62 with successful free throws.
Securing the victory became a matter of composure and skill at the line for Georgia, as they managed to convert 6 out of 8 free throws in the game’s final minute. Alongside Woolfolk and Flournoy’s standout performances, Asia Avinger and Trinity Turner each added 11 points, and Roxane Makolo chipped in with 10 points, securing the win for Georgia, now standing at 12-18 overall and 4-12 in the SEC.
Despite the loss, Tennessee saw notable contributions from Jewel Spear with 20 points, Zee Spearman with 19, and Samara Spencer with 11. However, a significant blow to Tennessee was losing their leading scorer, Talaysia Cooper, to an ankle injury late in the second quarter, which kept her from returning to the court.
The first half saw Georgia building a substantial 39-26 lead, driven by their impressive 50% shooting success, including 4 out of 6 on 3-point attempts. In contrast, Tennessee struggled significantly, managing only 25% shooting and a meager 3 for 19 from beyond the arc.
Remarkably, Tennessee managed to rally and tie the contest in the third quarter by embarking on an unusual 13-0 run. During this span, they capitalized on free-throw opportunities, achieving a striking 9 for 10 at the line, despite making just two field goals. The narrow lead shifted back to Georgia, 48-46, as the teams entered the fourth quarter.
With just five seconds left in the game, Tennessee’s Kaniya Boyd managed to hit a crucial 3-pointer, bringing Tennessee’s field goal tally equal to their successful free throws at 21, highlighting their struggle from the field throughout the contest.
The result placed Tennessee and Vanderbilt tied for eighth, while Georgia concluded the regular season in 12th position. All eyes now turn to the upcoming SEC Tournament, commencing Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina.
