Barker nets 24 in return as A&M upends Georgia to end slide, 75-73

Nearly three minutes after checking in for the first time in 10 games, it was obvious that Janiah Barker’s presence had been sorely missed.

It was also obvious that she was ready to dominate.

The star freshman closed out the first quarter with a personal 7-0 charge to permanently keep the Aggies neck-and-neck with the Lady Bulldogs.

Barker continued to shine offensively in another career performance as she netted 24 points to lead Texas A&M past Georgia in their first Southeastern Conference victory on Sunday afternoon, 75-73.

The triumph put an end to a horrific eight-game slide and was also the first meeting between Aggie head coach Joni Taylor and the program she formerly led for seven seasons.

Barker, originally a Georgia commit, provided a much-needed spark down the stretch as she topped the scoring column and added five rebounds and two blocks in her first action since Nov. 30.

With Barker and Tineya Hylton back, it also marked the first time the Aggies had more than seven players available in five games.

Yet, still battling the bitter end of her wrist injury, Barker originally had no plans to play until this morning.

“I think it’s the confidence that my teammates and my coaches have in me to know that I can go out there and do it,” Barker said. “They told me if I was okay to play today, I’d play. If I wasn’t, I wasn’t. I didn’t even know I could play today. I found out this morning from the doctors.

“It feels good to be back. My hand’s fine. I’m good. I actually feel better.”

Barker’s return was crucial in A&M being able to stretch the floor. The Aggies shot a blistering 58 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc (8-of-16). They also controlled the margin in rebounds, assists and nearly doubled Georgia’s bench production (47-26).

Kay Kay Green was the only Aggie besides Barker to record double-digit points at 11. Jada Malone followed with nine, and Aaliyah Patty turned in three points alongside 11 assists.

“It opens up the floor. (Barker) sees well. You’ve got to guard her. You’ve got to respect her, so it just frees up other players to have the freedom to do more,” Taylor said. “Obviously, the attention is going to go to Janiah, and it should. She was incredible tonight: 10-for-11 from the field.

“But, the seven that held it down until she and Tineya (Hylton) could come back, I’m so proud of them. I’m so proud of how they fought at times. I think the eight losses prepared us for today.”

Prior to today, the largest lead the Aggies carried in conference play was four. But a 7-2 run capped off by a three-pointer from Green allowed Texas A&M to take a 65-56 advantage with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth.

The Lady Bulldogs climbed back after gaining the bonus and used three straight trips to the free-throw line plus an inside basket from Diamond Battles to pull within two.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Sunday’s battle saw 13 ties and 11 lead changes. 

In an attempt to slow down Georgia, Taylor called a timeout, and Barker stormed back out to sink a right-handed hook.

That clutch shot still wasn’t enough to run away. Hylton’s pass on the ensuing possession was picked off and set up a Georgia layup that forged a 69-69 tie with 1:28 to play.

Another dose of late-game heroics by Barker eventually put the Aggies in front for good, as they went on to force a shot-clock violation and make the most of late free throws.

Throughout the prolonged losing streak, the Aggies often resorted to citing the smaller successes as a cause for hope. Today, valuing those little things finally paid off.

“To be honest, I feel like what we did out there tonight is the same game plan that has been there from the previous games we’ve played,” Barker said. “Although we’ve lost those games, the coaches have always come in with the same mindset and are out there coaching hard every game.

“So, we need to just continue to keep doing what we do. We’ve been reaching and reaching for a win, and we finally got it, but that doesn’t change anything that we’ve been doing.”