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Pershelle Rohrer
Sports Communications Graduate Assistant
University of Georgia Athletic Association
A 26-point scoring effort from fifth-year senior Javyn Nicholson and a season-high 57 Georgia rebounds helped the Lady Bulldogs earn a Senior Day victory over the Florida Gators, 76-60, on Sunday afternoon.
Nicholson paced the Lady Bulldogs (12-15, 3-11 SEC) with her third-straight scoring effort of 20 or more points, also chipping in a team-high 12 rebounds. Fellow senior Jordan Cole collected the first double-double of her career, tallying a career-high 14 points and 11 rebounds. Georgia’s 57-rebound effort marked the team’s highest total since they grabbed 59 against Mercer on Nov. 18, 2021.
After alternating baskets with the Gators for the first four minutes of the contest, the Lady Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run to take a 15-7 lead and force a Florida timeout with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter. Nicholson’s eight first quarter points coupled with six Florida turnovers forced by the Georgia defense helped the Lady Bulldogs finish the opening frame with an eight-point lead, 21-13.
Georgia sunk 10-of-17 shots in the second quarter for a 58.8% shooting mark to extend its lead to 47-25 at halftime. The Lady Bulldogs closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 22-point lead into the break. Cole led Georgia with 10 points in the frame as the Lady Bulldogs tied their third-most points scored in a half this season (47).
Nicholson sunk a pair of free throws at the 6:48 mark in the third quarter to give the Lady Bulldogs their largest lead of the game, 53-29. Georgia and Florida exchanged buckets for most of the quarter before the Gators scored seven-straight points to trim Georgia’s lead to 57-41 with 2:17 left in the frame. Nicholson responded with five points of her own followed by a Savannah Henderson three-pointer to push Georgia’s lead back to 23 points, 65-42, as the Lady Bulldogs ended the quarter on an 8-1 run.
Florida chipped into Georgia’s lead in the fourth quarter, using a 7-0 run to come within 16 points of the Lady Bulldogs with 4:11 to play. Georgia used a late run to push its lead back out to 21 with 1:46 to go before the Gators scored the game’s final five points. Four Lady Bulldogs scored in double figures help Georgia celebrate Senior Day with a 76-60 win.
Storylines from Today’s Game
Javyn Nicholson, Jordan Cole, Taniyah Thompson, Chloe Chapman, and Zoesha Smith were honored following the game as part of Georgia’s Senior Day celebration.
The Lady Bulldogs have won 12 of their last 14 matchups with Florida.
Georgia pulled in a season-high 57 rebounds, its most in a game since Nov. 18, 2021 vs. Mercer (59).
The Lady Bulldogs held Florida to just 30.9% shooting from the field. The Gators entered today’s contest with a 44.0% mark on the season.
Career Highs/Player Superlatives
Javyn Nicholson scored 20+ points for the third-straight game, leading the Lady Bulldogs with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Jordan Cole tallied career highs in points (14) and rebounds (11), for her first-career double-double.
De’Mauri Flournoy chipped in 14 points and five rebounds.
Taniyah Thompson tallied 10 points and added four rebounds.
Chloe Chapman dished a team-high five assists.
Quote of the Day
“It's great,” Georgia head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said. “Obviously Javyn led the way and got a double-double. It was great to see Jordan Cole, get a double-double the today. Just sharing the ball was big. Florida is known for their defense and being really scrappy, and we did a good job of taking care of the ball.”
What’s Next
The Lady Bulldogs will welcome LSU to Stegeman Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 29, for Georgia’s final home game of 2023-24 campaign. The game will air live on ESPN2 with tipoff set for 9 p.m.