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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ATHENS, Ga. -- At this rate, freshman Christi Thomas will
soon be starting for fifth-ranked Georgia.
"She's solid and seems to have her head in the right place,"
Georgia coach Andy Landers said after Thomas scored 17 points
Sunday to help the Bulldogs rally past Massachusetts 71-63.
In the season opener last week at No. 1 Connecticut, Thomas had
a team-high 16 points and 12 rebounds in a 99-70 loss.
She was on the bench Sunday as Massachusetts labored to an 8-2
lead in the first eight minutes, then helped energize Georgia's
inside game. The Bulldogs went ahead 12-10 at the 6:51 mark of the
first half when Thomas completed a three-point play, and UMass never
again led.
Thomas finished with a team-high seven rebounds.
"She knows there are some things she is not quite prepared
for," Landers said, "but she understands that. She has been our
most productive person on the front line."
Kelly Miller scored 27 points and Coco Miller, her twin and
backcourt partner, scored 16 for Georgia (1-1).
Massachusetts (1-1) was led by Jennifer Butler with 19 points
and 13 rebounds, and Kathy Coyner with 15 points.
The Minutewomen twice closed to one point in the second
half, the last at 43-42 with 12:06 left after a short jumper by
Amber Sneed.
Thomas raced down the floor after Sneed's basket and completed a
three-point play six seconds later. On Georgia's next possession,
she made a 3-pointer that boosted the lead to 49-42.
Georgia could not put the game away until the final minutes, but
Massachusetts was never closer than four points. Kelly Miller's
3-point bucket with 1:51 to go made it 66-59.
"We came in here ready to play hard, and we wanted to learn
something about ourselves," Massachusetts coach Joanie O'Brien
said. "Jen Butler was ready to play, and I think she proved
that."
Georgia played without forward Deanna Nolan, who has a cold.
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Massachusetts Clubhouse
Georgia Clubhouse
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