AMES, Iowa – The University of Dayton women's basketball team ended its 2021-22 season in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament Friday with a loss to No. 6 seed University of Georgia.

The Flyers (26-6) finish the year while the Lady Bulldogs (21-9) advance to the second round.

KEY MOMENT
2^nd quarter – 2:31 – After a tie game early in the second, Georgia was able to get the margin to 12 points and held on to control of the contest.

GAME BREAKDOWN
1^st Quarter: Dayton 17, Georgia 19

• Georgia struck first, but Dayton answered with a three from sophomore Makira Cook.
• The two teams traded baskets and the lead back-and-forth in the opening three minutes of the contest.
• By the media break, the Flyers held a two-point lead, 9-7, as they shot 50 percent to UGA's 25 percent.
• The Bulldogs took the lead again at 15-11 thanks to a 6-0 run and the Flyers were forced to take their first timeout.
• Graduate student Erin Whalen drilled a three out of the break to cut the gap to one.
• In the opening quarter, Dayton shot 47 percent to Georgia's 40 percent, but the Bulldogs had 10 free throw attempts to the Flyers two, which proved the difference.
• Cook led the way with eight points.

2^nd Quarter: Dayton 31, Georgia 41

• The Bulldogs took control of the opening few minutes of the second and extended their lead to seven, 29-22.
• Midway through the quarter, the margin was then nine as Georgia was 4-for-4 during the stretch.
• The Bulldogs then hit a big three at the 2:30 mark to make it a 12-point lead.
• UD continued to trail around the double-digit mark for the remainder of the half.
• Dayton shot 43 percent in the first half to Georgia's 39 percent, but the 16 more free throw attempts (12 more makes) proved to be the difference in the game.
• Cook had a team-high 14 points in the half while grad student Jenna Giacone had seven points.
• Rebounds were 24-13 in favor of the Bulldogs, including 11 offensive rebounds.

3^rd Quarter: Dayton 46, Georgia 56

• Both teams came out slow to start the second half with just one bucket apiece in the opening three minutes.
• Georgia went over three minutes without a field goal, but once again, were able to capitalize from the free throw line.
• At the media timeout, Dayton trailed 48-38.
• Giacone became the second Flyer in double-digits with 10 at the 4:18 mark.
• Another 6-0 run with everything going the Bulldogs' way forced another UD timeout with 2:04 to play while it faced a 2:06 drought.
• The Flyers responded with a quick 5-0 run out of the timeout to make the Bulldogs take a timeout as it was an eight-point game.

4^th Quarter: Dayton 54, Georgia 70

• UD tried to climb back within striking distance to make it a contest, but Georgia wanted to slow the game down to make it fewer possessions for the Flyers.
• The Bulldogs led by as much as 15 at the 6:31 mark in the quarter.
• In the end, the Flyers were unable to mount a comeback.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
36% to 40% - Dayton shot 36 percent to Georgia's 40 percent.
21 – Makira Cook had a team-high 21 points
16 – Jenna Giacone capped off her UD career with 16 points.
14 to 15 – The Flyers committed fewer turnovers than the Bulldogs.
6 to 1 – UD hit six threes to UGA's 1

KEY STAT
26 – Georgia attempted 26 more free throws than Dayton, who attempted a season-low four free throws.

UP NEXT
Dayton ends its season with its 15^th straight postseason appearance.

A special thank you to all five seniors for everything they have done for the program.