COLUMBIA (WACH) – A last second attempt fell inches short as No. 25 South Carolina dropped a 61-59 decision to No. 18/15 Georgia Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena.

The Gamecocks (19-7, 8-5 SEC) led by two at the half, but the Lady Bulldogs (20-6, 9-4 SEC) led by as many as eight midway through the second half.  Georgia stayed on top by five as late as 1:25 left to play before the Gamecocks’ trio of starting guards leveled the game at 59-59 with 12 seconds to play.  Georgia called its final timeout to set up a play, which the Gamecocks defended well until Anne Marie Armstrong pulled up at the left elbow and drew a foul with five seconds on the clock. The Lady Bulldogs’ junior calmly sank both her attempts.

After a pair of timeouts, La'Keisha Sutton got the ball in bounds to Ieasia Walker, who drove up the floor and put up a last second 3-pointer that bounced off the rim after the buzzer.

While Georgia won the offensive battle in the paint, out-scoring the Gamecocks 38-20, South Carolina edged out the Lady Bulldogs on the boards 34-32, including 14 on the offensive end. 

Sutton netted 20 points to lead USC, which plays at Alabama Sunday.