UGA takes Lady Vols’ skid to three

ATHENS, Ga. — Caliya Robinson had 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two of her six blocks in a critical last-minute possession Sunday as the Georgia women’s basketball team beat No. 13 Tennessee 66-62, giving the Lady Volunteers a three-game losing streak for the first time in 33 years.

Tennessee (12-4, 1-3 Southeastern Conference), which had never lost three straight SEC games, has fallen to Missouri, Kentucky and Georgia by a total of eight points. The first two games were at Thompson-Boling Arena, marking the first time the Lady Vols have lost consecutive home games since December 1996.

As for their most recent threegame skid prior to Sunday, Tennessee lost at Ole Miss and at home to Auburn and Louisiana Tech in February 1986.

With the Lady Bulldogs (125, 3-1) leading 63-62 late in the fourth quarter Sunday, Robinson blocked Evina Westbrook’s layup attempt with 19.6 seconds remaining, then blocked a short jumper by Rennia Davis that left one second on the shot clock.

After inbounding the ball, Tennessee couldn’t get another attempt off before the shot clock expired. The Lady Vols had to foul twice to get Georgia’s Jenna Staiti — a 55 percent free-throw shooter — to the line. Staiti made both attempts with 8.5 seconds remaining.

Tennessee’s Meme Jackson then put up a 3-point attempt from the right corner, with Robinson rebounding the airball. She was fouled with a second to go and iced the game with a free throw.

Gabby Connally added 13 points for the Lady Dogs, and Taja Cole and Staiti each had 12 points and seven rebounds.

With 23 points, Westbrook was the only scorer in double figures for Tennessee, which led by 17 points late in the first half. Westbrook led Tennessee with six assists, while Davis had 12 rebounds and Cheridene Green grabbed 10.

The Lady Vols shot 24 percent in the second half and went 9-for18 from the foul line, including 3-for-10 in the fourth quarter.

Tennessee’s next game is Thursday at Alabama, with tipoff at 9 p.m. Eastern. Georgia also returns to competition Thursday with a 7 p.m. Eastern game at Missouri.