ATHENS, Ga. – The 18th-ranked Georgia women's basketball team darted to

a big early lead and then coasted to a 71-56 victory against Auburn on

Sunday at Stegeman Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs snapped their two-game SEC losing streak as they

moved to 14-5 overall and 3-2 in the conference. Auburn fell to 9-7 and

is still winless in the SEC at 0-3.

Georgia opened a double-digit lead four minutes into the game and never

looked back. The Lady Bulldogs' biggest edge of the first half came at

37-15 on freshman Megan Darrah's 3-pointer. Georgia and Auburn each

scored 34 points in the second half.

"It was a good effort," Georgia coach Andy Landers said. "The energy

level was there when we started the game and the bench kept it there

and kept us productive when they came in."

Freshman Tasha Humphrey led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points and 10

rebounds. Sophomore Janese Hardrick added 15 points, while Darrah and

junior Sherill Baker each scored 12. Darrah also pulled down eight

rebounds, all on the defensive end, as Georgia outrebounded the Tigers

43-34.

Junior Marita Payne led Auburn with 11 points and 10 blocked shots as

she became the school's career leader in the latter category. Senior

Natasha Brackett pitched in 10 points.

Georgia will return to action next Sunday at Mississippi State. The

Lady Bulldogs' next home game will be Jan. 27 as they entertain

Florida.