REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! No. 5 women’s basketball rallies late to beat No. 11 Lander
Press Release March 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
DAHLONEGA – After leading by 13 at halftime and seeing that lead disappear, the No. 5 University of North Georgia women’s basketball team weren’t ready to see their season come to a close, rallying back and scoring with 20 seconds left on the clock to take the lead and beat Lander by a 59-57 score Monday night in the Southeast Regional Championship.
North Georgia came out with the early advantage in a back-and-forth first quarter before stretching the lead out to as many as 14 prior to halftime. Lander battled back, outscoring the Nighthawks 25-7 in the third quarter to take a five point lead into the final quarter.
The Bearcats led nearly the entire fourth quarter, but UNG fought back, going on a 7-0 run over the last three minutes, including seeing Julianne Sutton get a put back layup with 20 seconds left to take the lead. After hitting a pair of free throws, North Georgia had to defend a good look from three for the Bearcats at the buzzer to advance to the second Elite Eight in program history.
NOTES
– Jamari McDavid was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after a team high 20 points in the championship game. She averaged 19.3 points per contest in the tournament. Sutton was also named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing Monday with a third straight double-double, going for 17 points and 11 rebounds.
– This was the fourth straight regional final that North Georgia has been in and the third straight against Lander.
– UNG finishes the season with a home record of 18-1.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will play in the Elite Eight Monday against a team to be named after the final eight are reseeded Tuesday morning. Stay tuned to UNGAthletics.com for all of the updates as they are released.
Tusculum upsets No. 4 Nighthawks, 54-38
Press Release December 9, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
GREENEVILLE, Tn. – After a sluggish start, the No. 4 University of North Georgia women’s basketball team clawed all the way back to cut a Tusculum lead to as few as one, but the Nighthawks could get no further in a 54-38 loss on the road Wednesday evening to the Pioneers.
Tusculum jumped out to an 14-2 lead after one quarter and led 22-4 before the Nighthawks stormed back on a 17-0 run to make the Pioneer lead a single point. After the two teams traded buckets, TU went on an 11-0 run to stretch the lead back to double figures where it remained throughout.
NOTES
– The 38 points scored is the lowest total since January 17, 2011, in a 74-35 loss to USC Aiken.
– Jamari McDavid and Tija Blackwell led UNG with eight points each.
– UNG was just 12-for-52 from the floor.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will look to bounce back in the Peach Belt opener Saturday at home against Georgia College. Scheduled start time is 1:30 p.m.
UNG women win 82-79 in overtime
Press Release November 29, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
CARROLLTON, Ga. – The No. 4 University of North Georgia women’s basketball team came from behind to force overtime and then defeated West Georgia, 82-79, Tuesday evening.
After the teams were tied at 32 at halftime, the Wolves opened the second half on a 6-0 run. North Georgia fought back to take a 45-44 lead with 2:34 left in the third, but UWG answered with a 10-2 run to take a seven point lead early in the fourth.
West Georgia led by as many as eight with 4:22 left, but the Nighthawks clawed back to tie the game with 40 seconds left in regulation. Both teams had opportunities to score inside 10 seconds, but neither could, leading to overtime.
After the Nighthawks claimed the early lead in the extra period, West Georgia went on a quick 5-0 run to take a 74-71 lead before UNG finished on an 11-5 stretch to claim the win.
NOTES
– There were 14 lead changes and 16 ties in the game.
– Jamari McDavid led North Georgia with 20 points and nine rebounds. Julianne Sutton scored 17, 12 of which were after the third quarter. Caroline Martin added 16, while Abbie Franklin put up 13.
– With the win, North Georgia takes a 19-18 lead in the all-time series between the two in-state rivals. It’s the first time UNG has led the series since the 1981-82 season.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will have nearly a week between games as they will pick back up with a road trip to Montevallo on Wednesday, December 1, for a 4:30 p.m. tip.