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Lady Bulldogs rally past Arkansas

Jan 18, 2013 by Georgia Sports Communications

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Shacobia Barbee’s career highs of 15 points and 11 rebounds also supplied her first career double-double and led No. 13 Georgia to a 57-53 victory at Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena on Thursday night.

The Lady Bulldogs rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit to improve to 16-2 overall and 4-1 in SEC play. Arkansas fell to 13-5 overall and 1-4 in the SEC.

Jasmine James added 13 points, and Jasmine Hassell chipped in a dozen for Georgia.

“It was a gutty comeback, and I think everyone who played in the second half did something significant to put us in a position to come back and win that basketball game,” head coach Andy Landers said. “It wasn’t a great individual effort; it was a great team effort made by individuals.”

Barbee was Georgia’s most consistent player from start to finish. She scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds before halftime when the Lady Bulldogs were held to a season-low 19 points.

“She kept us in it,” Landers said. “I think we would have had a foot in our face without Barbee. She was the one who was consistent in rebounding the basketball and she made some nice plays offensively and she had a couple of steals. She kept us in it.”

After trailing 30-19 at the half and falling behind by 13 early in the second stanza, Georgia outscored the Razorbacks 36-19 over the final 15:51.

Consecutive baskets by Hassell opened a 14-2 run that pulled the Lady Bulldogs within 36-34 at the 10:33 mark; however, Arkansas regained a 44-39 lead just 3:20 later. Georgia went on top for good on a Krista Donald layup with 5:27 remaining.

The lead eventually grew to eight points as the Lady Bulldogs converted on 7-of-10 free throw attempts in the waning moments.

The first half was a different story altogether when a 14-0 run moved the scoreboard from a 9-8 Georgia lead to a 22-8 Arkansas advantage. The Razorbacks’ largest edge came at 25-10 with 4:34 left in half on Keira Peak basket.

A Barbee jumper with 4:06 left represented the Lady Bulldogs’ first basket in 7:34 and Georgia closed the gap to 11 at the break. The Lady Bulldogs opened the second-half scoring, but Arkansas scored four straight before Georgia gradually took control.

Georgia outscored Arkansas 28-22 in the paint, but the Razorbacks owned a massive 33-7 edge in bench points.

The Lady Bulldogs will return home on Sunday when Georgia hosts No. 20 Texas A&M in an ESPN2 nationally televised matchup. The first 1500 kids in attendance will receive Lady Bulldog replica jerseys t-shirts and the first 1500 fans will receive Hello Kitty dolls.

Single-game reserved seat tickets for Lady Bulldog home games are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Single-game tickets are available at the UGA Ticket Office at the Butts-Mehre from 8:30-4:30 weekdays, via georgiadogs.com, by calling the UGA Ticket Office at 877-542-1621 or at the Stegeman Coliseum box office (closest to Sanford Drive) beginning 60 minutes before tip-off.

UGA students, faculty and staff are admitted to all Lady Bulldog games free of charge with a valid UGA Card. Faculty and staff should pick up tickets at the Coliseum box office. Students are admitted to the arena via the entrance to the left of the box office by showing their UGA Card.

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