No. 17 Georgia tops Middle Tennessee, 90-72

The Lady Bulldogs played without sophomore forward Tasha Humphrey, a preseason all-Southeastern Conference first-team selection. She is serving a one-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules and did not travel with the team.

Georgia (4-2) broke a 26-26 tie with seven minutes left in the first half on a shot from Sherill Baker, and extended the lead to 40-32 five minutes later when Darrah scored from the right wing.

Middle Tennessee (3-2), which led 19-15 eight minutes into the game when LaCondra Mason hit a 3-pointer, missed six of seven shots later in the first half as Georgia took control. The Blue Raiders cut it to 40-36 as Krystle Horton and Latoya Barclay scored on consecutive possessions with a minute left in the period.

Desire Bostice scored on Georgia’s next possession, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 42-36 lead at the half.

MTSU’s Tia Stovall scored 15 seconds into the second period, making it a four-point game, but the Blue Raiders got no closer.

Georgia took a 90-70 lead with 13 seconds remaining on a Baker layup off a steal, before Chrissy Givens scored the final basket of the game. Givens scored 24 for MTSU, with Tia Stovall adding 13.

Darrah, who set her previous career high of 17 points last Jan. 10 against Stetson, led four Georgia players scoring in double figures. Baker finished with 23, Alexis Kendrick with 19 and Janese Hardrick with 13. Bostice grabbed 11 rebounds and scored nine points.