In a thrilling and emotional Senior Day matchup at the Food City Center in Knoxville, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs edged out the No. 11 Tennessee Lady Volunteers, 72-69, spoiling Tennessee’s celebration of its seniors.
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First Half: Georgia’s Dominance
The game began with Georgia asserting control, jumping to an 8-0 lead before Tennessee could find the scoreboard. The Lady Bulldogs’ aggressive play extended their advantage to 33-10 with 5:45 remaining in the second quarter. Tennessee struggled early, missing their first nine field goal attempts. However, a late surge, including a Tess Darby three-pointer, narrowed the gap to 39-26 at halftime.
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Second Half: Tennessee’s Resurgence
Emerging from halftime, Tennessee showcased resilience. An 8-0 run to start the third quarter, highlighted by layups from Alyssa Latham and Kaniya Boyd, trimmed Georgia’s lead to eight. The Lady Vols continued their momentum, tying the game at 39-all with eight consecutive free throws from Spear, Boyd, and Samara Spencer. Despite Georgia’s efforts to regain the lead, Tennessee closed the quarter trailing by just two, 48-46.
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Final Moments: Georgia’s Clutch Plays
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle. Tennessee briefly took a 58-57 lead on a Samara Spencer three-pointer. However, Georgia’s Mia Woolfolk hit a crucial jumper, and Roxane Makalo’s fast-break layup gave Georgia a decisive 64-62 lead with 1:55 remaining. Tennessee couldn’t recover, and Georgia secured the upset victory.
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Key Performances
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Tennessee Lady Volunteers:
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Jewel Spear: 20 points, 10-of-10 free-throw shooting.
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Zee Spearman: 19 points.
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Samara Spencer: 11 points.
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Georgia Lady Bulldogs:
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Mia Woolfolk: 20 points.
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De’Mauri Flournoy: 18 points.
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Asia Avinger and Trinity Turner: 11 points each.
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Roxane Makalo: 10 points.
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Fatima Diakhate: 11 rebounds.
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