Lady Dogs sail in season opener

From UGA Sports Communications...

Georgia 95, Wofford 56

Postgame Notes and Quotes

Team Notes

*With the 95-56 win over Wofford, Georgia has won 12-straight season openers dating back to 2005-06. The 39-point difference was the largest season opening win since Georgia’s 50-point win over Alabama State in 2008.

*Georgia’s starting lineup featured two Georgia debuts – freshman Que Morrison and redshirt-sophomore Taja Cole. Mackenzie Engram, Haley Clark, and Caliya Robinson rounded out the starting five.

*Freshmen Gabby Connally and Maya Caldwell also made their collegiate debuts. After sitting out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Taja Cole and redshirt junior Bianca Blanaru notched their Georgia debut.

*Georgia outscored the Terriers 27-10 in the third quarter. After Wofford’s opening three, the Lady Bulldogs went on a 14-2 run including eight unanswered. Georgia closed out the quarter on a 13-1 run.

*The Lady Bulldogs were 8-for-20 (40%) from behind the three-point arc. The eight treys eclipsed last year’s team-high of seven.

*Five Georgia players scored in double digits for the first time since the third game of the 2016-17 season against BYU (Nov. 16, 2016).

Individual Notes

* Que Morrison’s team-high 19 points is the most by a freshman in a season opener since Tasha Humphrey scored 25 in 2004. Morrison added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

*Caliya Robinson poured in 15 points, marking her 10th double-figure scoring output in her last 12 outings. She picked up two blocks tying her with Tasha Humphreys on Georgia’s all-time bock list with 119.

*Sophomore Stephanie Paul notched 16 points and eight rebounds, both career-bests. Seven of her eight boards were on the offensive end.

*Taja Cole tallied 13 points, four rebounds and team-high six assists. From long distance, she was 2-of-3.

*Mackenzie Engram recorded her 35th double-digit career scoring game with 10 points. She grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds.

Georgia Head Coach Joni Taylor

On today’s win over Wofford…

“Wofford is a really good team. They have a great player in Wanink. They are going to do really well in their conference. They came out prepared and ready to go. They gave us a tough run in the first and second quarter. Credit to them. Our team came back and settled in a little bit and started to construct defensively.”

On the depth of this year’s team…

“They are going to be fun to watch. They are exciting. They play well together. You are going to see a lot of different combinations out there. Obviously we have a lot of players who are putting up numbers. I think it makes for more competitive practices and gives us more confidence.”

On Taja Cole’s and Gabby Connally’s performances tonight…

“They both did a really good job. We have been on both of them about making the easy plays. They both have great vision. They love to pass the ball to their teammates.”

On Que Morrison’s performance… 

“She can drive it. She can shoot it. She can defend and rebound. She’s going to be fun to watch.”

Georgia Players

#23 Que Morrison | Fr.

On her nerves for the game…

“I was very nervous. My hands were sweating a lot. My teammates told me to calm down and breathe. I’m going to be honest, I never felt calm. I still am not calm sitting here talking to you all.”

On the team’s freshmen…

“As a freshman group I feel like we were all nervous, but everyone came out and did their part and helped in a way that would help the team as a whole.”

On her expectations for her first game…

“This has all gone beyond my expectations. Way beyond. I knew I was going to get the flow of the game I just didn’t know when. I think the second half is when my teammates got me going and we started to feel comfortable.”

On the teams defense…

“I would give us an 85 percent only because in the first half we weren’t playing like we could have.”

#0 Taja Cole | R-So.

On her first game…

“It felt great. We had a great crowd tonight and great energy. We got the win.”

On Que’s performance…

“Que is a great shooter, so as point guard my one mission was to get her the ball.”

On sitting out last year…

“I think I made it easy for myself by being the best cheerleader I could be on the bench and creating the chemistry with my team a year early. I have been waiting for this season.”

On today’s performance…

“I would give us a B+. I know we can be better. It’s our first game so I won’t be too hard on us, but we can’t let someone go off on us like they did in the first half.”

#4 Caliya Robinson | Jr. 

On Que’s performance…

“Man. It’s amazing. To get 19 points your first game…It’s special. My first game as a freshman, I was nervous. She really came out and played so well.”

On Stegeman’s new renovations…

“I have been waiting all year for it. To come out tonight and play in the new stadium with a great crowd was awesome.”

On the team’s potential…

“I think once we really get playing together and have a feel for the game, it is definitely going to help us. Time will help us and better us as the season goes on.”

Wofford Head Coach Jimmy Garrity

On his biggest takeaway from the game..

“I thought we came in here and battled. That is what we were wanting to show them. I think in the first half we played with them neck and neck. They made some big shots, and they shoot the ball much better this year than they did last year. They are just so athletic. The second half we just didn’t take care of the ball, like we needed to be in the game. We just gave up too many second chance points. They are a good team, and I give them a lot of credit. They are playing well, and I expect them to have a good year playing in the SEC.”

On the contributions from freshman… 

“I think Da’Ja to run she probably played 35-36 minutes probably. Against that pressure all game long, that’s not easy. So, I thought she handled it really well. She is going to grow. We are going to take some mistakes from her, but I am really pleased with her and her performance today.”

On next game against Southern Wesleyan… 

“We are excited to play at home. It will be another contest where we get to play a lot of people. Hopefully, we need to play a good game and play efficient. Take care of the ball a little bit better. That is what we need to improve on.”