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  Sunday, Dec. 10 2:30pm ET
McDonald just too much for Cougars
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Everywhere Houston turned, Georgia center Tawana McDonald was there.

McDonald blocked nine shots, grabbed eight rebounds and scored 14 points, leading Georgia (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today; No. 5 Associated Press) to a 92-61 victory on Sunday.

"I thought Mac was spectacular," said Georgia coach Andy Landers. "She did some things that don't show up on the stat sheet, too. She defended well. Her player didn't score much. Not only did she slide over and stop the ball, but she stopped the ball and then she blocked the shot."

McDonald's nine blocks, one off the single-game career record held by Tracy Henderson, moved her into third place on the career list at Georgia. Her 180 are one more than Barbara Bootz finished with in 1987.

"I didn't even know I had that many blocked shots today," she said. "I was just trying to play defense. During my freshman year I got the blocks, but I got the fouls, too. It's experience and timing."

She had only one foul Sunday.

McDonald had plenty of help. Kelly Miller scored 19 points and stole the ball six times. Deanna Nolan scored 18 points and added four assists and six rebounds. And Coco Miller scored 16 with eight rebounds.

"I really thought everybody played well," said Landers.

Houston coach Joe Curl was impressed.

"This is the best team we have played," he said. "We have played at Nebraska, at Pepperdine, and Indiana and Louisiana Tech. What makes this team so special is great coaching and great kids who are able to be coached."

Freshman Chandi Jones led Houston (4-4) with 15 points.

A week ago, Houston scored an impressive 71-52 victory over Louisiana Tech. But Georgia established itself early, forcing 14 first-half turnovers.

Coco Miller kicked off a 9-0 run by Georgia midway in the first half with a running jumper and a shot from the left corner. Nolan capped that with a breakaway layup after a blocked shot by McDonald, boosting Georgia to a 21-8 lead with 11:43 to go in the half.

The Cougars scored six consecutive points to close the gap to 21-14 after Nicole Oliver's steal and basket, but that was as close they could get.

Kelly Miller's 19 points gave her 1,779, moving her into sixth place, ahead of Henderson who finished with 1,764 points in 1997.
 


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