January 18, 1999

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) - As if the rivalry between Georgia and Georgia Tech wasn't fierce enough, the women's basketball teams got into the act Monday.

Tech gave the fifth-ranked Lady Bulldogs all they could handle before falling 88-82 at sold-out Cobb County Civic Center in the first meeting between the two teams in more than four years.

"We came into this game to win it, not to be close," said Yellow Jackets coach Agnus Berenato. "So don't ask me about moral victories."

Tech, which took a 15-5 lead in the first five minutes, closed to 85-82 with 27 seconds left on Danielle Donehew's 3-pointer.

"I have no apologies about the way we played," said Georgia coach Andy Landers, whose Lady Dogs beat No. 25 Auburn Sunday.

"We played well, they played well. This is the atmosphere we wanted, and hopefully it will build into a rivalry," he said.

Georgia (16-1) leads the series 21-0 overall. The teams are planning to meet next year, with the site to be determined.

Coco Miller led Georgia with 20 points, including four in the final 2:08 that gave the Lady Dogs just enough room down the stretch. Tawana McDonald added 18, with nine rebounds and five blocks.

The Jackets (9-8) got 20 points apiece from Kenya Williams and Donehew, along with 18 points, 18 rebounds, two steals and two blocks from Regina Tate.

"Even though they are the better-known players, I felt like I could still outjump them," said Tate, who hit the floor several times diving for loose balls. "It's frustrating knowing we could have won and didn't."

The Jackets came out like they were trying to erase 25 years and 20 games of frustration, hitting almost every open shot, beating Georgia on the offensive glass and frustrating the Lady Dogs into missing their first five shots.

Landers called time, berated his team, and Georgia responded, turning up the defensive pressure and taking a 26-25 lead with 9:26 left in the half - its first lead of the game. The Lady Dogs surged again in the second half, going up 76-63 on Pam Irwin-Osbolt's 3-pointer with 7:02 left.

"We had one stretch where we did not react to their zone, and I take responsibility for that," Berenato said. "Other than that, we executed perfectly and were there to win it."

The Yellow Jackets clawed back with seven straight points and a Tate block of Miller's twin sister Coco to make it 80-75 with 2:25 left.

Coco Miller responded with her jumper from the baseline, Donehew hit her 3-pointer as Tech closed to 85-82, but Miller hit two free throws and Tech never got another decent shot.