Georgia Lady Bulldogs Fall to Florida Comeback
Turnovers doomed the Lady Basketball Bulldogs against Florida Thursday night in Athens.
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The Georgia Lady Bulldogs built a 14 point lead over Florida with 15 minutes to play Thursday night only to watch the Gators out score the Dawgs 27 to 10 the rest of the way and lose 51-48. The come from behind win by Florida is the Georgia season in microcosm – beginning with promise and fanfare only to dwindle away with Georgia’s lost offensive firepower.
It wasn’t the Bulldog shooting that lost the game, nor the Bulldog defense. It was the 28 total turnovers committed by the Lady Dawgs. Still, the Bulldogs were able play themselves into a game winning opportunity with less than 30 seconds to play on the strength of 43-26 free throw advantage. But with the Bulldogs trailing by two, the turnover total reached the tipping point when the Gators’ Carlie Needles stole the ball with 11 seconds left and made two free throws to give the Gators a two-possession lead.
Erika Ford led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points. Tiaria Griffin scored eight points and claimed five rebounds.
The loss is only the second at home for the Lady Bulldogs who dipped to 5-7 in the SEC with four games to play. The Dawgs are all but eliminated from any chance of claiming one of the coveted double byes awarded the top four seeds in the SEC Tournament and are only one game removed from the 11 spot, which would force the Dawgs to play on the opening day of the tournament.
After playing several of the top teams of the country in the last three weeks, playing Florida was an opportunity for the Lady Bulldogs to regain some footing. But, the Gators came to play and refused to give in. With the Lady Bulldogs finishing the season without Shacobia Barbee due to a leg fracture, the firepower to overcome 28 turnovers was not at the Dawgs disposal.