BOCA RATON, Fla. - Forty minutes of relentless pressure defense
gave Tennessee Tech a chance for an upset Sunday, but Georgia Tech
had a few too many weapons and escaped with a 68-56 victory over
the Golden Eagles in the consolation game of the Florida Atlantic
Thanksgiving Classic.
Tech forced 32 turnovers by Georgia Tech (5-2), and just kept
fighting back against the bigger team from the Atlantic Coast
Conference. The Golden Eagles, however, couldn't overcome 35
turnovers and a second consecutive day of cold shooting.
Senior point guard Allison Price led Tech in scoring, tying her
career-high with 15 points. Classmate Meagan Lyons added 12 points
and a team-best seven rebounds, while Vivian Nwosu also reached
double digits with 11 points. Freshman Tacarra Hayes scored eight
points.
Georgia Tech also had three players in double figures, topped by
Brigette Ardossi with 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Jacqua
Williams added 16 points and Alex Montgomery scored 10, including a
crucial 3-pointer with 3:01 remaining after Tech had pulled to
within four points.
The Yellow Jackets scooted to a quick 4-0 lead and held their
advantage all the way to the finish. They increased their lead to
as many as 12 points in the first half, leading 17-5 at the 12:24
mark.
Tech sliced the difference down to four points when Lyons' layup
capped a 6-1 run to make it 21-17 with 5:47 to play, but GT scored
eight straight to regain the 12-point bulge.
Back-to-back baskets by Lyons made it a six-point game, 29-23, at
halftime.
Twice in the second half Price knocked down 3-pointers that brought
the Golden Eagles to within a single point, once at 31-30 and the
second time at 42-41 with 10:13 remaining.
The Yellow Jackets scored the next nine points to make it a
10-point game, and once again the Golden Eagles hammered away to
close the gap. A 3-pointer by Nwosu and a layup by Hayes made it
52-48 with 3:01 left to play.
That's when Montgomery hit the 3-pointer to make it 55-48, and she
added a steal and layup eight seconds later to make it 57-48.
Tennessee Tech was forced to foul down the stretch and the Yellow
Jackets finished with six straight free throws for the final
12-point margin.
Tech shot 30 percent in the first half and improved to 46 percent
in the second period, finishing the game with a 39.2 percent mark.
The Golden Eagles owned a 35-29 advantage in rebounds.
Tech faces its second consecutive game against a foe from the Peach
State, visiting the University of Georgia Wednesday night. After
that, Amy Brown's squad opens Ohio Valley Conference play on
Saturday by hosting Jacksonville State at 5:30 p.m. in Eblen
Center.