No. 8 Georgia 79, Georgia Tech 69

12/3/2006 4:25 PM

By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) -Tasha Humphrey wasn't in the best of shape. It sure didn't show in her first full game of the season.

Humphrey, who was suspended from Georgia's first five games for underage alcohol possession, scored 23 points and the No. 8 Lady Bulldogs used an 18-0 run in the second half to beat Georgia Tech 79-69 on Sunday.

Georgia (7-0) converted four three-point plays - two of them by Humphrey - during the decisive run, which turned a 49-45 deficit into a 63-49 lead.

Humphrey was allowed to play in the second half of the Bulldogs' previous game, a 95-46 victory over Memphis. This was the first time she was available for the whole game, though she didn't start.

That was a minor point. Humphrey made 7 of 13 shots from the field and all eight of her free throws. She also had seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 29 minutes, asking out of the game only once because she was tired.

``She looked fine to me,'' Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph said. ``She's practically falling down and she's making shots. That was a big-time player hitting big-time shots. She's virtually unstoppable.''

Georgia Tech (3-3), which led by 10 early in the game, closed to 64-60 when Tabitha Turner hit a pair of free throws with 6:10 remaining. But Georgia pulled away down the stretch for the 27th win in 29 meetings against its state rival.

``It feels very good to be back,'' Humphrey said. ``My teammates supported me through the whole thing. To come out there and put it all together felt really good, really special.''

Humphrey scored 8 points during the spurt that put Georgia in control, including a putback with 9:27 left after Christy Marshall missed a jumper. Georgia Tech's Daphne Mitchell was called for a foul, and Humphrey made the free throw as well.

``She's not in the best playing shape,'' coach Andy Landers said. ``But it was nice to have her out there. There's no question about that. Defensively, she made a couple of reads, a couple of rotations, to just stop some of the stuff they had been scoring off of.''

Megan Darrah and Marshall added 16 points apiece for the Lady Bulldogs. Darrah also had 10 rebounds for her third double-double in the last six games.

``Darrah just keeps getting better and better,'' Landers said. ``Megan's aggressiveness is driving the improvement in her play.''

Janie Mitchell led Georgia Tech with a career-high 26 points, topping her previous best of 21 against Virginia last season. But no one else on her team had more than 11.

Freshman guard Ashley Houts, Georgia's top scorer on the season, played only eight minutes in the first half after picking up three fouls. She finished with 11 points and five assists.

Georgia Tech pulled out a 55-49 upset over the then-No. 6 Lady Bulldogs when the teams met at Alexander Memorial Coliseum two years ago. Last season, Georgia beat the Yellow Jackets 72-66 in Athens.

Landers became the winningest college basketball coach in state history with his 664th victory. He passed former Georgia Tech star Roger Kaiser, who went 663-233 in 29 seasons at West Georgia and Life University.

Landers pointed out that Kaiser won four NAIA national championships, while Georgia is still seeking its first NCAA title.

``He has four W's that I don't have,'' Landers said. ``He's the king. I'm just a friend of his.''