Mia Woolfolk and De’Mauri Flournoy delivered when it mattered most, propelling Georgia to a dramatic 72-69 victory over No. 11 Tennessee on Sunday. The Lady Bulldogs snapped their losing skid with a statement win, closing out the game with clutch free throws and timely defensive stops.
Georgia Holds Strong in the Final Minutes
Tennessee looked poised to escape with a victory after Samara Spencer’s three-pointer and layup gave the Lady Vols a 60-57 lead late in the fourth quarter. But as the game clock ticked down, Georgia’s defense tightened up. The Lady Vols went ice cold, failing to make a field goal for three and a half minutes.
Mia Woolfolk stepped up when Georgia needed her most, tying the game with a jumper at the 2:30 mark. Moments later, Roxane Makolo’s layup put the Bulldogs ahead 64-62, a lead they would not relinquish. Woolfolk then iced the game with two crucial free throws, stretching Georgia’s lead to four with just over a minute remaining.
Georgia’s composure at the free-throw line sealed the upset. The Lady Bulldogs made six of their final eight attempts, preventing any late comeback attempts by Tennessee.
Offensive Balance Fuels Georgia’s Victory
The Lady Bulldogs didn’t rely on just one star to get the job done. Woolfolk led the team with 20 points, but Flournoy wasn’t far behind, chipping in 18 of her own.
- Asia Avinger and Trinity Turner provided key contributions with 11 points each.
- Roxane Makolo added 10 points, including the go-ahead basket in the final minutes.
- Georgia shot an impressive 50% from the field in the first half, building an early cushion.
Tennessee, on the other hand, struggled to find rhythm early. The Lady Vols managed to shoot just 25% in the first half, missing 16 of their first 19 three-point attempts. Jewel Spear finished with 20 points for Tennessee, while Zee Spearman added 19.
Tennessee’s Second-Half Surge Falls Short
Despite their early struggles, Tennessee roared back into the game in the third quarter. A 13-0 run, fueled by aggressive drives and free throws, erased Georgia’s 13-point halftime lead. The Lady Vols took advantage of foul trouble and found themselves at the line frequently, going 9-for-10 on free throws during their comeback stretch.
Georgia, however, never panicked. Flournoy responded with a tough layup to break the drought, and the Lady Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter clinging to a 48-46 advantage.
Tennessee had its chances down the stretch but struggled to hit shots. Kaniya Boyd’s last-second three-pointer finally gave the Lady Vols as many field goals as free throws—21—but it was too little, too late.
SEC Tournament Implications
This loss adds uncertainty to Tennessee’s seeding for the upcoming SEC Tournament, set to begin Wednesday in Greenville, S.C. The Lady Vols now stand at 21-8 overall and 8-8 in conference play, leaving their final tournament positioning in the balance.
Meanwhile, Georgia, at 12-18 overall and 4-12 in the SEC, won’t be a top seed, but Sunday’s upset gives them a confidence boost heading into the postseason. If they can bottle up the resilience and execution they showed against Tennessee, they could prove to be a tough out in the tournament.
One thing is clear: Georgia’s season isn’t over yet, and Tennessee still has some work to do before March Madness begins.
