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Olivia Sayer
Georgia forwards Zoesha Smith (0) and Destiny Thomas (33) check in during a women’s NCAA college basketball game between North Carolina A&T and Georgia at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Georgia won 71-59. (Photo/Jessica Lin, @j.lin321)
Georgia women’s basketball fell to Belmont 76-50 on the road Friday evening at Curb Event Center.
Four Bulldogs scored 10 points apiece, but the Georgia offense was uncharacteristically held in check. The Bruins limited the Bulldogs to only 50 points, a feat that had only been done twice in the previous season.
Georgia had no answers for Belmont’s Kendal Cheesman, who exploded for a career-best 28 points. Cheesman scorched the Bulldogs from deep to the tune of nine made 3-pointers.
In a game that the Bulldogs only led for 5.5% of the minutes played, Georgia got out to a 4-0 lead early. However, Belmont responded with a 11-0 run, and never looked back. With just over six minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Bulldogs were staring down a 20-point deficit, 32-12.
Not ready to roll over, Georgia fought back. A couple of jumpers from junior Asia Avinger and big-time baskets from junior De’Mauri Flournoy, senior Zoesha Smith and fifth-year Jordan Cole brought the Bulldogs within 10, as the buzzer sounded for halftime.
Georgia’s run did not carry over into the third quarter. Far from it, actually, as the Bruins scored the first sixteen points of the period. With the Bulldogs trailing 52-28, it was evident the game was all but over, and Belmont rolled to a 76-50 victory.
Despite the loss, one area of improvement for Georgia was its free throw percentage. The team shot 73.3% from the foul line. For comparison, the Bulldogs shot 50% in the game prior, which prompted head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson to share her thoughts on the number one aspect she wanted her team to work on.
“Make free throws, for sure,” Abrahamson-Henderson said after Georgia’s season-opening victory over North Carolina A&C. “Just relax a little bit and make some shots.”
The Bulldogs look to build upon this improvement, as they return home Monday to face in-state rival Georgia Southern. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum.