Georgia regained its double-digit lead and never relinquished it. The Flyers (26-6) fell to theBulldogs, 70-54, and bowed out of the NCAA tournament in the round of 64.
“Credit Georgia,” Dayton coach Shauna Green said. “They came out and I thought their size and physicality disrupted a lot of what we were trying to do. They out-rebounded us which we knew was key coming in. We had to at least be with them on the boards because their size across the board was a concern. They are big and they did their job.”
After a 31-point win Wednesday in the First Four against DePaul where Dayton had all of the answers, the Flyers couldn’t find many in their final game of the season.
Center Tenin Magassa, who had seven blocks against DePaul, sat out of Friday’s game with a shoulder injury. Georgia took advantage its size advantage in the frontcourt and outrebounded Dayton 48-31.
“It wasn’t like we lost T, and had to go with a 6-foot (player),” Green said. “We had a freshman because she’s playing behind T. I thought Brynn (Shoup-Hill) played very well and she got shots that she makes every day in practice.”
Georgia had four double-digit scorers, led by 19 points from 6-foot-4 senior Jenna Staiti. The Bulldogs’ frontcourt combined for 40 points.
Dayton hit 13 3-pointers against DePaul, but Georgia’s stout man-to-man defense made it difficult for the Flyers. The teams had similar shooting percentages, but Dayton only hit 6-of-18 3-pointers and the rebounding gap became too much to overcome.
“They get up and press you, and the physicality of their length, it’s a little bit different,” Green said. “Some of them were tough shots, then we had clean looks and we didn’t hit.”
Dayton’s Jenna Giacone had 16 points off of the bench. Erin Whalen, who scored a season-high 28 vs. DePaul, was held to three points.
“This entire team fought till the end and that’s just who they are,” Green said. “They will hold a special place in my heart.”
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