No. 13 Tennessee on rare 3-game losing streak after loss to Georgia

Jan 14, 2020, 07:44 am

ATHENS, Ga. -- Caliya Robinson had 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two of her six blocks in a crucial last-minute possession Sunday and Georgia defeated No. 13 Tennessee 66-62, giving the Lady Vols a three-game losing streak for the first time in 33 years.

Tennessee, which had never lost three consecutive Southeastern Conference games, fell to Missouri, Kentucky and Georgia by a total of eight points. The first two games were at home, the first time the Lady Vols (12-4, 1-3 SEC) lost consecutive home games since December 1996.

With the Bulldogs leading 63-62, Robinson blocked Evina Westbrook's layup attempt with 19.6 seconds remaining, then blocked Rennia Davis' short jumper with 1 second on the shot clock.

Tennessee couldn't get a shot off before the shot clock expired. The Lady Vols had to foul twice to get Jenna Staiti, a 55 percent free throw shooter, to the foul line, where she made both with 8.5 seconds remaining.

Meme Jackson put up a 3-pointer from the right corner, with Robinson rebounding the airball. She was fouled with a second to go and iced the game with a free throw.

Gabby Connally added 13 points for the Bulldogs (12-5, 3-1) and Staiti and Taja Cole both had 12 points and seven rebounds.

Westbrook scored 23 points for Tennessee, which had a 17-point lead late in the first half. The Lady Vols shot 24 percent in the second half and went 9-of-18 from the foul line -- 3-of-10 in the fourth quarter.

During its previous three-game skid, in February 1986, Tennessee lost at Mississippi and at home to Auburn and Louisiana Tech.