Nov 18, 2001

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Tawana McDonald scored 16 points and No. 16 Georgia beat Maine 88-57 Sunday in its season opener.

Kara Braxton, a 6-6 freshman, had 15 points and Christi Thomas scored 13. Mary Beth Lycett added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Georgia blocked a Stegemen Coliseum-record 13 shots and held a 59-32 rebounding edge.

Missy Traversi led Maine (1-1) with 18 points. Melissa Heon scored 15 and Kim Corbett had 14.

In her debut, Braxton started quickly with six of Georgia's first eight points.

The Black Bears trailed 12-10 after a 3-point play by Eva Moldre, but Georgia broke open the game with a 22-2 run. The Lady Dogs led at halftime 49-23.

This was just the second meeting between the two schools. In the championship game of the Dead River Classic in Maine in 1999, Georgia held off a late surge by Maine to win in overtime 79-68.

That Lady Dogs' team was led by the recently graduated Miller twins, Kelly and Coco, who were both picked in the first round of the WNBA draft last spring.