Georgia women’s basketball blew a solid game against Virginia Tech in the final five minutes, losing 70-61 to fall .500 overall on Wednesday night in Stegeman Coliseum.
“I thought we were dead in the water,” Hokies head coach Megan Duffy said. “And then Laci stuck her hand up and got a deflection at the perfect time. Some of those momentum plays could have been the difference.”
There are things they need to work on, like zone offense head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said — especially zone offense.
But then there are things that can stay the same, like the way redshirt sophomore center Fatima Diahkate and freshman guard Summer Davis are playing.
Diakhate grabbed the first double-double of her career against the Hokies, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds in the heated battle.
Abrahamson-Henderson said she thinks the team is enjoying Diakhate’s newfound fire. She didn’t play much last season, only averaging 7 minutes and 2.4 points a game. She was more of a shadow with Jordan Cole and Javyn Nicholson holding down the fort. Now she’s stepped into the limelight.
Davis got her second career start for the Lady Bulldogs and managed to pull in 11 points, 2 assists and 1 steal. Her first career start came in the 76-74 overtime loss to Hampton over the holiday weekend, and she’d only managed 2 points in 10 minutes there.
Diakhate contributed the slowdown in the final five minutes to discipline.
“I think we just got too excited when we should’ve calmed down,” Diakhate said.
The Lady Bulldogs (5-5) will host UNC Greensboro on Monday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Fatima Diakhate taking on a bigger role for Georgia women’s basketball
