Jan. 22, 2009
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Ashley Houts scored 18 points, Angel Robinson had 16 and Georgia beat a ranked opponent for the first time this season with a 66-55 victory over Vanderbilt (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 17 AP) on Thursday night.
Porsha Phillips added 15 points, including five points in the final 2:31, for Georgia.
Vanderbilt (14-5, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) dropped to 4-4 on the road.
Georgia (12-7, 2-2) took its first win in three tries against ranked opponents. The Lady Bulldogs haven’t been ranked all season after missing out on the preseason Top 25 for the first time since 1980.
Vanderbilt’s Christina Wirth was held to a season-low three points, 11.8 below her team-leading average. Wirth did not score in the first half and managed her first field goal in the final seconds.
Hannah Tuomi led the Commodores with 14 points. Jence Rhoads added 12 points.
Georgia has struggled with turnovers, but had little difficulty moving the ball up the court against Vanderbilt’s press. Houts patiently directed the offense, consistently working down the shot clock before setting up high-percentage shots.
Robinson had 12 of Georgia’s first 25 points as the Lady Bulldogs, who never trailed, led 25-10 midway through the first half and 40-23 at halftime.
Georgia stretched its lead to 51-30 before Lauren Lueders, who didn’t play in the first half, made two straight 3-pointers to help the Commodores cut the lead to 58-50. Phillips answered with a basket for Georgia.
