ATHENS – The University of Georgia women’s basketball team defeated Mississippi State, 62-34, Sunday afternoon in Stegeman Coliseum.
Diamond Battles led the scoring effort for Georgia with 19 points, followed by Javyn Nicholson with 10. Nicholson grabbed a team-high eight boards. Alisha Lewis tallied eight assists, tying her career high.
Georgia (15-8, 4-5 SEC) took a quick 8-2 lead, forcing two Mississippi State (15-7, 4-5 SEC) turnovers to take control. Georgia attacked the paint, picking up 10 of its 21 points in the key. A 13-point run was punctuated by a fastbreak jumper from Chloe Chapman to beat the buzzer and close the first quarter with Georgia ahead, 21-5.
Georgia dished out seven points to start the second half and boost its lead to 20. A second seven-straight run increased Georgia’s lead, 48-25. Both teams traded points to close the third frame as Georgia carried its 52-27 lead into the final quarter.
The second quarter was slow to start before Nicholson cashed in two jumpers to increase Georgia’s lead to 15. The Georgia defense forced six turnovers from Mississippi State, tallying sort scoring runs to take a 31-16 lead into the second half. Georgia held Mississippi State to its season low 16 points at the half, the least number of points scored by an opponent in one half of play this season.
Following a five-point run, a De’Mauri Flournoy triple increased Georgia’s lead to 26. Georgia’s defense held Mississippi State to a 27 percent field goal percentage. A final layup by Amiya Evans closed the game with the Lady Bulldogs on top.
Georgia will return to the court in Baton Rouge, La. On Thursday, Feb. 2 to face the LSU Tigers. The game will Tip off at 8 p.m. and will be aired on SEC Network+.