Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. (11/07/2026) — The Georgia Lady Bulldogs used a punishing third-quarter surge and forced 28 turnovers to defeat the Nicholls Colonels 74-48 at Stegeman Coliseum, opening their 2026 home slate in commanding fashion before 2,594 fans.
Result
Georgia shot 49 percent from the field and held a 35-28 rebounding advantage, turning a tightly contested first half into a runaway victory behind balanced scoring from four players in double figures. The Lady Bulldogs' ability to generate turnovers and convert them into offense proved the decisive factor in a game that was far closer than the final margin suggests through one quarter of play.
How It Happened
Nicholls guard Britiya Curtis announced her presence immediately, drilling a 23-foot three-pointer 32 seconds into the game to give the Colonels the early lead. Curtis was relentless in the first quarter, connecting on another three with 1:34 remaining to close the gap to 14-11, then setting up back-to-back Nicholls threes — Danielle Bennett tied the game at 14, and Anyra Wilson buried a 23-footer with nine seconds left — sending Nicholls to the bench after one quarter with a 17-14 advantage.
The second quarter traded leads repeatedly. Curtis extended the Nicholls edge to 19-14 on another pull-up jumper before Nya Smith answered with a layup at 8:17 to ignite Georgia's response. The game remained unsettled through the midpoint — Curtis reclaimed the lead for Nicholls at 21-20 with a 13-foot floater, before Tyreona Sibley converted her own floater off a Milan Brown assist to put Georgia back in front at 22-21. Curtis struck again with a three-pointer at the 2:00 mark to give Nicholls a one-point lead, but Jailyn Banks delivered a driving layup with 24 seconds remaining to push Georgia ahead 33-26 at the break.
Turning Point
Georgia came out of halftime and never looked back. A 14-0 run extended the Lady Bulldogs' advantage from 29-26 to 41-27, a sequence that broke the game open and from which Nicholls could not recover. Dakota Howard opened the third quarter with a 7-foot turnaround jump shot to push the lead to nine, and Georgia's defense clamped down — holding the Colonels to just 11 points in the period. Banks converted at the free throw line to extend the advantage to 46-30 before Jordana Codio drilled a 24-foot three-pointer off a Brown assist at the third-quarter buzzer to send Georgia into the final period with a 56-37 lead.
The fourth quarter served as confirmation. Smith's driving layup at 9:11 extended the margin to 21, and Howard's free throws pushed it to 24. Curtis added a final three-pointer with 5:12 remaining to close it to 66-42, but the Lady Bulldogs closed out with authority — capping the scoring when Curtis completed the game's final notable exchange with a turnaround jumper to make the final 74-48.
Star of the Game
For Nicholls, Britiya Curtis delivered a genuinely impressive individual effort in defeat. Her 22 points — built on multiple long-range attempts and a consistent ability to create her own shot — gave the Colonels a legitimate offensive threat all evening. Curtis hit four three-pointers and was involved in nearly every Nicholls scoring sequence, finishing with three rebounds and three assists as well.
Georgia's victory, however, was a collective one. Dakota Howard led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points, while Jailyn Banks added 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Milan Brown contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists — her interior presence providing Georgia with a physical edge that Nicholls couldn't match consistently. Nya Smith rounded out Georgia's four double-figure scorers with 10 points and three rebounds.
What It Means
For the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, the opening victory at Stegeman Coliseum establishes a foundation to build on. The 49 percent field goal efficiency and 35 rebounds signal legitimate interior strength, and the balanced scoring attack suggests Georgia won't be dependent on a single contributor heading into SEC play. The 11 percent three-point shooting will draw attention — Georgia went cold from beyond the arc — and 17 turnovers represent an area the Lady Bulldogs will need to tighten as competition stiffens.
For Nicholls, the 28 turnovers are the story. Curtis proved capable of competing at a high level against a Power Four program, but the Colonels simply gave the ball away too often to sustain any momentum. Charnelle Hoof's eight points and eight rebounds offered a secondary contributor to build around, but the margin between the two programs ultimately came down to ball security — a correctable issue that will determine how competitive Nicholls can be in its non-conference slate.
