Lady Dogs fall to Duke

Despite a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds from senior forward Javyn Nicholson, the University of Georgia women’s basketball team fell to Duke Thursday evening, 72-65, before 2,446 spectators in Stegeman Coliseum.

Georgia (5-2) used a 10-3 scoring run to open the first quarter. Nine points from Duke closed the first period as the Blue Devils took a 20-16 lead.

The Blue Devils extended their lead to 10 midway through the second quarter to lead 29-19. Georgia added three points from the charity stripe to cut the lead to seven before Duke tallied five more to take a 34-24 lead into the third frame.

Three points from Nicholson coupled with four from Zoesha Smith gave life to an 8-2 run for the Lady Bulldogs, cutting Duke’s lead to four, 36-32. A pair of Blue Devil triples gave Duke its 10-point lead back before Georgia ripped six points to get within four, 42-38. A free throw from Chloe Chapman and a jumper from Destiny Thomas cut Duke’s lead to three, 46-43, heading into the final period.

Georgia opened the final frame with three points to tie the game at 46. An and-one from Nicholson gave the Lady Bulldogs their first lead since the first quarter, 49-48. Both teams traded points, but a pair of baskets from behind the arc from Asia Avinger allowed Georgia to hold a two-point lead, 55-53, with one minute of play remaining. Dule used two free throws to knot the score at 55 and send the game into overtime.

Georgia struck first with a jumper from Nicholson before the Blue Devils regained the lead with five uncontested points to lead 60-57. A 7-2 Duke scoring run boosted the Blue Devils to a 72-65 win.

Storylines from Today’s Game

• Tonight’s game marks the first overtime game since the Lady Bulldogs’ 82-77 loss at LSU last season on 2/2/23
• Georgia’s 15 steals marks the fourth time in five games the Lady Bulldogs have tallied double figure steals
• The Lady Bulldogs scored 12 points off 15 Duke turnovers in the second half
• Georgia forced 22 Blue Devil turnovers, equaling Duke’s highest total of the season
• The Lady Bulldogs grabbed 41 rebounds while holding the Blue Devils to a season-low 31 boards. The Blue Devils everted the contest averaging 42.5 rebounds per game

Career Highs/Player Superlatives

• Nicholson scored five of Georgia’s first 10 points, contributing to her 31st double figure scoring effort of her career, the 11th time in 13 games
• Nicholson’s 21 points set a new season high for the fifth-year senior, contributing to her third double-double of the season and marking the 11th of her career
• Smith grabbed a season-high nine boards and notched nine points
• Thomas led the season with a career-high seven steals
• Chapman scored eight points, dishing out five assists and tied her career high with three swipes
• Avinger tied her season high with five assists for the third time this season and scored six points

What’s Next

• Georgia will play host to Furman on Sunday. Tipoff will be at 2 p.m., and the game will be aired live on SEC Network +.

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