ATHENS, Ga. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team delivered a sparkling defensive effort on Sunday at No. 22 Georgia in the 2013-14 season opener, but the nationally-ranked Bulldogs took a 45-30 win at Stegeman Coliseum.
PC opens the season at 0-1 and returns home to host the North Carolina Central Eagles on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Templeton Center. Georgia improves to 1-0.
The Blue Hose held Georgia to 45 points, a total fewer than all but two of Georgia's games last year. The Bulldogs also scored 21 more points in last year's win over PC and the margin of victory marks the smallest between the two schools since 1978.
PC held the Bulldogs to 32.0 percent shooting on the night (16-for-50) and 16 turnovers, equaling PC's total in that category. Georgia also struggled from long distance against the Blue Hose defense, shooting 2-for-12 for a 16.7 percent clip.
Rebecca Walker (Snellville, Ga.) and Keyonna Allen (Forest Park, Ga.) led the Blue Hose with seven points apiece. Allen and Noelle Carter (Neptune, Ga.) each grabbed a team-high six rebounds as well to go along with two Carter blocks. All of Walker's points came in the second half.
The two teams played a defensive first half to a 19-10 Georgia halftime lead. The Blue Hose held the Lady Bulldogs to 25.9 percent shooting in the opening period and 0-for-7 behind the arc. PC also forced seven Georgia turnovers.
PC took a 6-5 lead after the first five minutes thanks to a pair of three pointers from Karlee Taylor (Asheville, N.C.) and Kasey Hobbie (Spring Lake, N.J.). Georgia answered, however, with a 10-point run to take 15-6 advantage.
Noelle Carter (Neptune, N.J.) knocked down two free throws to halt the run and Allen added another bucket in the half's final minute to make the score 19-10 at the break.
Aianna Kelly (Newport News, Va.) made a strong statement in her first half of collegiate action, hauling in three rebounds in her first 11 minutes of action and making several strong plays. On one sequence, Kelly slashed through the Georgia defense before drawing a charge on the other end.
PC came out strong in the second half as well. The Blue Hose were outscored by only six points and limited their turnovers to just five.
The Allen-Kelly combination turned in a slick play in the half, with a backdoor cut finding Kelly underneath the basket for two points. Carter also showed PC's tough defense, blocking a shot that immediately led to a shot clock violation.
Merritt Hempe scored a team-high 10 points for the Bulldogs while Khaalidah Miller led Georgia on the boards with 11 rebounds.
The game marked the debut for three PC freshmen in Kelly, Walker and Kaycie Reffner (Altoona, Pa.). Reffner and Walker started the game and Reffner tallied three rebounds and an assist.
