Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont women's basketball team was unable to overcome a slow start on Thursday night at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins (3-7) were held off 81-55 by No. 16 Georgia (9-0).
The Bruins got off to a slow start to open the third meeting between the programs, struggling to find the bottom of the net for the first six and a half minutes as Georgia built an 18-0 lead. Finally, junior Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.) drained the first of her three triples to finally get the Bruins on the board at the 13:38 mark. Freshman Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.) followed with a layup, trimming Georgia's lead to 13, 18-5.
The Dogs surged again and blew their lead up to 17 before another trey by Carroll and a pair at the stripe by classmate Jordyn Luffman (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) kept the differential at 14, 24-10, with just over 10 and a half minutes left on the clock. Georgia pushed ahead and expanded its lead to 22 points before junior transfer Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.), in her first game as a Bruin, nailed a pair at the stripe. UGA grabbed its biggest lead of the half, 27 points, 45-18, with one minute remaining in the half before Carroll hit another three and sophomore Blair Bryce (Red Oak, Texas) hit two free throws to send the teams to their respective locker rooms separated by 22 points, 45-23.
In the second stanza, the Bruins attempted to close the gap early, drawing numerous fouls and remaining perfect at the stripe with a pair coming from junior Torie Vaught (Maryville, Tenn.) after Bryce knocked down one at the line to complete an and one opportunity five minutes in. By the 11:11 mark, BU had trimmed the deficit to 20 points, 56-36, behind a jumper by freshman Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.).
Belmont worked to cut Georgia's lead to less than 20, exploding for a 6-0 run around the eight and a half minute mark with a pair of tip-ins by Thompson sandwiching a driving layup by junior Adrienne Tarrence (Blowing Green, Ky.). After the flurry, the Bruins were within 18, 60-42, but that would be as close as they would come down the stretch.
Using double bonus in the waning minutes to add points at the stripe, the Bruins, who were nearly flawless at the free-throw line, were unable to overcome the huge deficit as Georgia pushed to the 81-55 victory.
Georgia shot 58.2 percent from the floor, 44.4 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free-throw line. The Dogs held the advantage in rebounds, 34-22, assists, 20-10, blocks, 3-0, and steals, 11-8.
UGA had four players reach double figures, led by Tiaria Griffin who netted 20 points. Khaalidah Miller, Merritt Hempe and Krista Donald added 15, 13 and 10 points, respectively. Donald and Shacobia Barbee led the team in rebounds, grabbing six apiece.
Belmont shot 35.4 percent from the hardwood, 25 percent from behind the three-point arc, and a blistering 94.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Thompson led BU in scoring with 10 points, followed by Carroll, Bryce, and redshirt freshman Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) with nine points each. Joubran led the team with five rebounds.
Belmont returns to action on Monday, December 16 at Missouri. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live stats and video will be available. The contest can be heard live via the internet on the Bruins Sports Network as well as an in-game Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB).
