Georgia Lady Bulldogs Play Tennessee for Post-Season Survival
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs watched injuries rip apart a promising season. Life isn’t fair and Tennessee doesn’t care.
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For Georgia to play in the NCAA Tournament, it must climb past seven teams. A loss to Tennessee tonight leaves the SEC Tournament Championship as the Dawgs only NCAA recourse.
The Georgia Lady Bulldog season opened with a history making winning streak. It is now a battle of survival. A breath away from playing on the opening night of the SEC Women’s Tournament, the Dawgs must face powerhouse Tennessee at home.
Georgia opened the season with 12 consecutive wins, including Head Coach Andy Landers 850th win as the Bulldog head coach. The streak also placed the Lady Bulldogs in range of the Georgia women’s basketball program’s 900th win and Coach Landers 950th career win.
Georgia Bulldogs
Reaching those marks, which once seemed a certainty this season, now seem likely to wait for 2016.
It is hard to blame the team or coach for the failure.
The Lady Bulldogs have compiled 93 “did not plays” due to a series of injuries, illnesses, suspensions or other reasons. Georgia began the fall with a 16-player roster that was the largest in the history of Lady Bulldog Basketball. Five players have been lost for the season and another is out of action for tonight’s game.
The first setback came three games in when Nasheema “Fruit” Oliver suffered a left foot injury that has kept her sidelined since.
After the Lady Bulldogs’ first three conference games, Jasmine Carter suffered a concussion in practice. Recurring symptoms have prevented her from returning to action.
On Jan. 25 at Tennessee, Shacobia Barbee fractured her right distal fibula, an injury that prematurely ended her junior season.
Merritt Hempe missed Georgia’s last three games with illness. She may to return to action this season.
Lastly, Krista Donald sprained her left ankle with 16:57 left and Georgia up 34-22 over Florida on Feb. 12 and missed UGA’s next outing.
It has been a frustrating year for the Lady Bulldogs. A win against Tennessee would soothe as well as give the Dawgs some post-season hope. It’s hard to imagine a Tennessee team letting that a happen.