UK women fall in SEC tourney, 82-64

By Chuck Bartels / Associated Press

Women's SEC Tournament
At Alltell Arena, North Little Rock, Ark.
(all times Eastern, p.m.; championship on ESPN2, all other games on FS South)
Thursday
No. 9 Mississippi 65, No. 8 Arkansas 60
No. 7 Georgia 82, No. 10 Kentucky 64
No. 12 Alabama (13-16, 1-13) vs. No. 5 Tennessee (20-9, 9-5), (n)
No. 11 South Carolina (10-17, 2-12) vs. No. 6 Mississippi State (21-8, 8-6), (n)
Friday
1: No. 1 Auburn (27-2, 12-2) vs. Mississippi (17-13, 5-9)
3:30: No. 2 Vanderbilt (21-8, 10-4) vs. Georgia (18-12, 7-7)
7:30: No. 4 Florida (23-6, 9-5) vs. Alabama-Tennessee winner
10: No. 3 Louisiana State (17-9, 10-4) vs. South Carolina-Mississippi St. winner
Saturday
6:30: Winners of Friday's 1 and 7:30 games
9: Winners of Friday's 3:30 and 10 games
Sunday
7:30: Championship game

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Ashley Houts scored 22 points as Georgia emphasized its outside game in beating Kentucky 82-64 on Thursday in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

Seventh seed Georgia (18-12) made seven of its nine three-point attempts, including three of five by Houts.

The Bulldogs were equally strong from the free-throw line, making 13 of 16. Overall, Georgia shot 63 percent for the game, compared to 34 percent for Kentucky. The Wildcats made 15 of 19 shots from the line.

Georgia's Angela Puelo, who had a quiet first half, made both of her three-point attempts in the second half and forced some key turnovers. Meredith Mitchell and Christy Marshall each made their only three-point attempts. Marshall scored 17 points and Porsha Phillips contributed 14.

Eleia Roddy led 10th seed Kentucky (15-15) with 20 points, and Amani Franklin contributed 14.

Georgia advances to play second seed Vanderbilt on Friday.

Kentucky now must wait until March 16 to find out whether it receives a bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament.