MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Playing the country's best shooting team,
Kelly Miller hit the shot that mattered most Sunday night.
Her running jumper with 0.8 seconds left pulled out a 62-60
victory for Georgia (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today; No. 6 Associated Press) over 15th-ranked Vanderbilt for its first
Southeastern Conference tournament title since 1986.
|  | | Georgia coach Andy Landers discusses strategy with Kelly Miller, left, and Coco Miller. |
"I'd say it's safe to say it's the ugliest shot in the house
tonight," Georgia coach Andy Landers said with a smile. "But when
it left her hand and went in, it was the prettiest."
Vanderbilt's Jillian Danker had just tied it at 60 with 5.9
seconds left when Kelly Miller started taking the ball up court
with an eye on the clock. She hadn't shot well the rest of the
game, but it didn't matter as she worked her way through the
Commodores before almost throwing the ball at the basket near the
free-throw line.
"I wanted to see how far I could take it down the court. I shot
it. It went in," Kelly Miller said as she held onto the game ball
while talking to reporters.
It was only appropriate. With the game, Kelly Miller now has
started more games (129) than anyone else in Georgia history.
Her shot ensured a fourth SEC title for the Bulldogs
(26-5), who had lost in the championship game in 1987, '92, '93 and
'99. And it looked like they might go home empty-handed again when
they blew a 12-point lead in the second half.
Vanderbilt (21-9) was looking for its first tournament title
since 1995, but the Commodores looked tired after upsetting No. 1
Tennessee to reach the championship game.
They had been shooting an average of 55.2 percent from the
floor, better than any other Division I team -- men's or women's.
The Commodores shot 51 percent, but hurt themselves with 16
turnovers that Georgia converted into 18 points.
"We came out flat," Vanderbilt guard Ashley McElhiney said.
"I don't feel like we were where we needed to be, emotionally
up."
Georgia shot only 8-for-28 in the half and turned the ball over
eight times after shooting 70 percent in the first half. Landers
said his Bulldogs became anxious when they started missing
wide-open shots.
Vanderbilt whittled away and took its first lead on a bucket
underneath by Chantelle Anderson at 56-55 with 1:33 remaining.
Deanna Nolan put Georgia up with five consecutive points, but it
looked like the game was headed to overtime when Vandy responded
with a jumper by Zuzi Klimesova and Danker's layup with 5.9 seconds
left tied it at 60.
Then Kelly Miller, who finished 3-for-8 for eight points, pushed
through two Commodores and put up the winning shot.
"She made a great shot," McElhiney said. "I feel like we were
there (in position). ... Give her credit. She's a great
jumpshooter. She knocked down a big shot when it counted."
Nolan finished with 21 points to lead Georgia, Coco Miller added
11 and Tiaunna Briggans had 10.
It was sweet revenge for Georgia, which fell from the
tournament's No. 2 seed to third after fourth-seeded Vanderbilt
upset the Bulldogs a week ago in Nashville. Georgia has beaten
Vanderbilt four times in the past two seasons.
Anderson had a game-high 28 points for Vanderbilt and was named
the tournament most valuable player. Klimesova added 14 and Danker 13. McElhiney,
who had a team-high 27 points against Tennessee on Saturday, was
just 1-for-6 for two points.
Neither team could have played much better through the first
nine minutes. Georgia missed only two of its first 12 shots, and
Vanderbilt only four of its first 11 as they went up and down the
court non-stop until the first timeout at 11:09.
Landers said it was a wonder neither team's players passed out,
and Foster called it a track meet that was not what Vandy wanted.
Georgia jumped ahead as Vanderbilt turned the ball over five
times in the final five minutes, and Coco Miller sparked an 11-1
spurt with five points, turning a 28-24 lead into a 39-25 halftime
lead.
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Vanderbilt Clubhouse
Georgia Clubhouse
Kelly Miller tabbed SEC Player of Year
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Georgia's Kelly Miller sinks a jumper with 0.8 seconds left, giving the Lady Bulldogs a two-point victory.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Vanderbilt's Jillian Danker drives to the hoop and ties the game with 5.9 seconds remaining.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Kiesha Brown goes up strong for a Georgia basket in the first half.
avi: 990 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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