Barker’s Return Leads Aggies over Georgia, 75-73 – Texas A&M Athletics

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas. – Janiah Barker recorded a career-high 24 points in her return to the court, propelling the Texas A&M women’s basketball team to Sunday’s 75-73 victory over the Georgia Lady Bulldogs.
 
Barker, who had not seen action since November 30, missing 10 games, drained 10-of-11 (90.9%) from the field, including hitting her only 3-point field goal attempt. The freshman forward was successful on her first eight field goal attempts. She added five rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes of action.
 
The first SEC victory of the Joni Taylor era did not come without some nail biting. The Maroon & White (6-12, 1-7 SEC) led 65-56 when Kay Kay Green hit a 3-pointer at the 4:31 mark of the fourth quarter, but Georgia (13-8, 2-5 SEC) salted the advantage down to 65-63 with five free throws and a jumper by Diamond Battles.
 
Georgia tied the game at the 2:11 mark, 67-67, and then again, 69-69 with 1:28 remaining. Barker splashed in her 10^th field goal of the game with :56 seconds remaining and added a foul shot at the :24 mark to give A&M a 72-69 edge.
 
With 18 seconds left, Georgia cut the lead to 72-70 when Alisha Lewis made 1-of-2 from the line. The Lady Bulldogs immediately fouled Tineya Hylton and the A&M guard came up clutch, hitting both of her free throws to seemingly seal the deal with a 74-70 cushion.
 

Lewis had other thoughts, splashing a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with :11 on the clock to shave the A&M margin to 74-73.
 
Jada Malone hit 1-of-2 from the line and a tenacious Aggie defense forced Lewis into missing a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
 
Kay Kay Green recorded her third-consecutive game with double digits in the scoring column. She scored 11 points on 5-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-1 from long range. Green added assists, three rebounds and two steals.
 
Hylton, who was also out of action the last nine games, scored 10 points in 14 minutes in her first game back.
 
Aaliyah Patty dished out a career-high 11 assists, the first double-digit assist game by an Aggie since Jordan Nixon against Lamar on Dec. 2, 2020. She added three points and five rebounds.
 
Playing with more than eight players available for the first time since Dec. 6, the Aggies shot a season-high 58.3% (28-of-48) from the field,…