Bulldogs Pull Fast One On Stanford Georgia’s Roundtree Dazzles In 86-76 Win To Reach Title Game

There probably isn’t the same kind of playground basketball on the streets of Georgia guard Saudia Roundtree’s hometown of Anderson, S.C., like there is in say, New York or Baltimore.

But Roundtree’s swagger and her game carry much of the free-flowing element of the playground, which she’ll carry into Sunday’s national women’s championship game, as the fifth-ranked Bulldogs beat No. 3 Stanford 86-76 in the second semifinal in the NCAA women’s Final Four.

Roundtree had a game-high 26 points, and dazzled the Charlotte Coliseum crowd of 23,291 with her fancy dribbling, pin-point passes and high stepping, not to mention her snaring of two key rebounds in the final 1:30 to help hold off a furious Stanford comeback.

“I don’t think I played all that well. I played all right. I’m just thankful my teammates showed up,” said Roundtree, the consensus national player of the year.

The Bulldogs (28-4), the Southeastern Conference regular-season champions, will meet fourth-ranked Tennessee, the SEC tournament winners, in the title game, marking the second time the conference has placed both teams in the final.

Stanford (29-3) shaved an 18-point second-half deficit to five with less than 2 minutes to go, as forward Naomi Mulitaopele gathered in a put-back with 2:30 to go, and Kate Starbird picked off a loose ball on the succeeding inbounds pass to pull the Cardinal within 81-76.

However, after reserve center Signe Antvorskov missed the front end of a one-and-one with 1:30 to go - 1 of 9 missed Georgia free throws in the final 5 minutes - Stanford’s Olympia Scott missed a short baseline turnaround. Georgia’s La’Keshia Frett made 1 of 2 free throws, but Scott fouled out on an illegal screen and the comeback was effectively ended.

“Two things may have happened,” said Georgia coach Andy Landers. “We may have been surprised to be up by such a margin, because we have a lot of respect for Stanford. Also, when you lead by that many in a game that leads you to the last step, you want to get it over with.”

There was none of the drama and electricity of the Tennessee-Connecticut semifinal present in the first half, as the Bulldogs trampled Stanford both inside and outside.

The perimeter power was furnished by Roundtree, who scored 15 points in the half.

She scored on a combination of pull-up jumpers and drives to the basket, hitting 7 of 10 shots, including a 3-pointer.

Roundtree, who had a career-high 37 points in Monday’s Midwest regional final win over top-ranked Louisiana Tech, also ran a flawless first-half floor game with four assists and no turnovers, to go along with three rebounds.

Georgia 86, Stanford 76

Georgia (28-4) - Frett 9-20 4-10 22, Holland 3-7 0-1 8, Henderson 8-11 1-2 17, Roundtree 8-14 9-9 26, Powell 0-0 0-0 0, Irwin 0-2 0-1 0, Antvorskov 0-0 2-5 2, Bush 5-8 1-3 11, Decker 0-2 0-0 0, Walls 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-64 17-31 86.

Stanford (29-3) - Scott 6-11 4-4 16, Nygaard 5-16 2-3 13, Starbird 8-17 3-3 20, Wideman 4-13 3-4 11, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Multiauaopele 6-14 3-8 15, Owen 0-2 1-2 1, Harrington 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-74 16-24 76.

Halftime-Georgia 46, Stanford 34. 3-Point goals-Georgia 3-10 (Holland 2-4, Roundtree 1-2, Frett 0-1, Irwin 0-1, Bush 0-1, Decker 0-1), Stanford 2-17 (Starbird 1-4, Nygaard 1-8, Wideman 0-5). Fouled out-Henderson, Scott, Nygaard. Rebounds-Georgia 48 (Frett 8), Stanford 42 (Scott, Nygaard 10). Assists-Georgia 18 (Roundtree 7), Stanford 13 (Wideman 7). Total fouls-Georgia 20, Stanford 26. A-23,291.