Battles leads as Georgia clamps down on MS State

ATHENS – The University of Georgia women’s basketball team defeated Mississippi State, 62-34, Sunday afternoon at Stegeman Coliseum.

Diamond Battles led the scoring effort for Georgia with 19 points, followed by Javyn Nicholson with 10. Nicholson grabbed a team-high eight boards. Alisha Lewis tallied eight assists, tying her career high.

Georgia (15-8, 4-5 SEC) took a quick 8-2 lead, forcing two Mississippi State (15-7, 4-5 SEC) turnovers to take control. Georgia attacked the paint, scoring 10 of 21 points in the key. The 13-point run was capped by a fastbreak jumper from Chloe Chapman to beat the buzzer and close out the first quarter with Georgia ahead, 21-5.

The second quarter was slow to start before Nicholson cashed in two jumpers to increase Georgia’s lead to 15. Georgia’s defense forced six turnovers from Mississippi State, tallying a scoring sequence to take a 31-16 lead into the second half. Georgia held Mississippi State for the season low 16 points in the half, the highest number of points scored by an opponent in a half of play this season.

Georgia dished out seven points to start the second half and boosted the lead to 20. A seven-straight second run increased Georgia’s lead, 48-25. Both teams traded points to close out the third frame as Georgia carried a 52-27 lead into the final quarter.

Following a five-point run, De’Mauri Flournoy added a three-pointer to lead Georgia to 26. Georgia’s defense held Mississippi State to a 27 percent field goal. A late layup by Amiya Evans sealed the game with the Lady Bulldogs on top.

Georgia will return to court in Baton Rouge, La. Friday, February 2 to face the LSU Tigers. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. and will be televised on SEC Network+.