Lady Raiders Fall to No. 16 Georgia in OT

ATHENS, Ga. - Senior Jamie Thomatis and freshman Patrice Holmes combined for 47 points, but it wasn't enough as Middle Tennessee dropped a hard-fought 77-72 decision to No. 16 Georgia in overtime. The loss dropped the Lady Raiders to 1-1 on the young season.

Ebony Felder scored five of her 14 points in overtime to lead the Lady Bulldogs to victory, including the first three on a putback and free throw.

Thomatis answered for Middle Tennessee (1-1) with a jumper from the corner. The Lady Raiders then took their first lead since the opening minutes when Paula Penttila hit a long jumper for a 66-65 edge.

A steal by Felder set up a running jumper by Camille Murphy that put Georgia ahead to stay 67-66 with 2:15 to go.

Georgia led 36-30 at halftime and built a 50-38 lead with 11:46 left on a turnaround by Kara Braxton. Middle Tennessee tied it at 56 with 5:08 remaining on Jessica McClure's free throw. Patrice Holmes tied it at 62 on a driving layup with 12 seconds to go.

Georgia played six players taller than Middle Tennessee' tallest, 5-foot-11 Aluka and Thomatis, but the Lady Dogs outrebounded the Lady Raiders by just three, 46-43.

"They have so much size, and also strength," said Middle Tennessee coach Stephany Smith. "They will be larger than most teams they play this year. They are going to cause teams a lot of trouble. They caused us a lot of trouble tonight. But I am proud of our team for the way they hung in their all night. This is a game we can build on and one that will only help us as we continue our season."

The Lady Raiders will be back in action Saturday at 2 PM in the Murphy Center against Conference USA foe Cincinnati.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE (1-1)
McClinic 1-13 1-2 4, McClure 1-3 0-0 2, Holmes 10-20 1-1 23, Thomatis 7-12 8-10 24, Aluka 3-9 2-5 8, Penttila 3-8 2-2 9, Justice 1-2 0-0 2, Fisher 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-67 14-20 72.

GEORGIA (2-0)
Pierce 3-5 0-0 6, Law 2-6 0-0 4, Murphy 3-10 0-0 6, McDonald 4-5 0-0 8, Kara Braxton 7-19 5-7 19, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Lycett 2-3 0-0 5, Thomas 6-13 1-2 13, Eason 0-0 0-0 0, Washington 1-3 0-0 2, Felder 5-12 4-5 14. Totals 33-76 10-14 77.

Halftime-Georgia 36, Middle Tennessee St. 30. End of Regulation-Georgia 62, Middle Tennessee St. 62. 3-Point goals-Middle Tennessee St. 6-26 (Thomatis 2-4, Holmes 2-9, Penttila 1-6, McClinic 1-7), Georgia 1-10 (Lycett 1-2, Thomas 0-1, Law 0-2, Murphy 0-5). Fouled out-Thomas. Rebounds-Middle Tennessee St. 43 (Aluka 10), Georgia 46 (Thomas 11). Assists-Middle Tennessee St. 15 (Thomatis 4), Georgia 18 (Murphy 5). Total fouls-Middle Tennessee St. 15, Georgia 20. A-2,156.

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