University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
1-0
Georgia
0-1
Women's Basketball Falls To No.5 Georgia, 71-63
November 19, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2000
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Kelly Miller scored 27 points as fifth-ranked Georgia overcame a sluggish start to beat Massachusetts 71-63 Sunday.
The Lady Dogs scored only one basket in the first eight minutes, shot 26 percent in the first half and led by only one with 12 minutes to play. But Georgia (1-1) picked up the offensive intensity and effectiveness in the second half.
Massachusetts (1-1) was led by Jennifer Butler with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Kathy Coyner scored 15.
Christi Thomas came off the bench for Georgia to score 17 points. Kelly Miller's twin, Coco Miller, scored 16.
Georgia hit only one of its first 12 field-goal attempts, a put-back by Tiaunna Briggans. Massachusetts was not much more effective and led only 8-2 with 11:28 to go in the first half after Cleo Foster's free throw.
Georgia's pressing defense enabled the Lady Dogs to take their first lead of the game on a 3-point play by Thomas and a 3-point goal by Kelly Miller. The six points during a 26-second span gave Georgia a 15-10 lead.
The Lady Dogs picked up the pace in the second half as Kelly Miller hit a 3-pointer and a layup in the first minute. Thomas' two free throws at 18:32 gave Georgia a 31-24 lead.
But the Minutewomen twice cut the margin to one point, the last time at 12:06 on a short jumper by Amber Sneed. Thomas countered with a 3-point play and a 3-point field goal, stretching the lead to 49-42 with 11:36 to go.
Massachusetts closed to 63-59 on a layup by Siiri Liivandi with 2:43 to go, but Kelly Miller's 3-point play with 1:51 to go effectively clinched the victory, putting Georgia up 66-59.
