Andy Landers’s Lady Bulldogs, playing on the road in Nashville’s Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday night, struggled mightily with a Vanderbilt club that came into the game sporting a 2-4 ledger in conference play, ultimately falling by a 68-48 final margin.
The Red and Black spent much of the game within striking distance of the Commodores, but the visitors could never quite bridge the gap. Trailing 31-26 at the break, the Athenians closed to within two points on the Anne Marie Armstrong jump shot that made it 39-37 with 13 and a half minutes to play. After that, it was all Vandy, as the home team stretched its advantage to 45-37 in the next 60 seconds on a fastbreak layup, a free throw, and a three-point basket, all by Christina Foggie.
The Commodores proceeded to pull away, shooting better than 50 per cent from the field (25 of 48) and draining nine of 20 from beyond the arc while Georgia found the bottom of the net on just 22 of 60 field goal attempts (36.7%) and made just one three-pointer and three free throws. Khaalidah Miller earned the women’s basketball equivalent of the Golden Sombrero, going 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-4 from way downtown. Armstrong’s 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists went to waste.
Depth continues to be an issue for the Lady Dogs, who used only eight players against Vanderbilt’s ten, but that excuse rings hollow in a game in which Georgia outscored the host squad off the bench (5-4). In fact, the Classic City Canines held a 12-7 edge in steals, committed fewer turnovers (17, to the Commodores’ 20), and matched the home team with 24 points in the paint. However, poor shooting, a goose egg in the block column, and a ten-rebound deficit on the glass translated to a 20-point setback for the Bulldogs, who aren’t supposed to lose like that in Tennessee except when they’re playing in Knoxville.
Go ‘Dawgs!