Nov. 30, 2011
Duluth, Ga. – Sophomore Tyaunna Marshall finished with career-highs of 28 points and 13 rebounds as the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (5-2) handed the Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-1) their first loss of the season, 73-57, at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Marshall’s first career double-double helped Tech improve to 5-0 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Yellow Jackets are one of only two teams between the two conferences, along with Maryland, still undefeated in the Challenge as the Terps beat the previously Challenge unbeaten Michigan Wolverines Wednesday night.
“I thought Ty was very special tonight, obviously hitting shots and all over the boards too,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “I know this is her first career double-double but I thought she went to a whole new level and took over the game.”
With the return to the Arena at Gwinnett Center, the Georgia Tech offense picked up where it left off after its first three home games of the year – with a lot of offense early. The Jackets averaged 92.7 points per game during the first three home contests and won by an average of 44.7 points.
The Yellow Jackets controlled the opening tip, and Marshall got her own offensive rebound and Dawnn Maye converted a layup to put Tech on the board first. Tech didn’t slow down and raced out to a 20-5 lead and allowed only two Nebraska field goals in the first 12 and a half minutes of the game, building a 26-11 lead.
The Jackets used a 14-2 points off turnovers advantage to take a 34-20 lead into the half, the sixth time Tech owned an edge at intermission this season.
“I’m really proud of the way our team responded tonight,” Joseph said. “You always find out about people’s toughness and character in adverse situations. Coming off those two tough losses in San Juan, especially the overtime loss to Green Bay, I was really pleased with the way we came out and jumped on Nebraska and took it at them the first five, ten minutes of the game.”
Tech used an 11-2 run midway through the second half to extend its lead to 23 with 8:37 to play. The Huskers, who rallied from a 13-point second half deficit to win at Florida State Sunday, showed that same resilience against the Jackets and whittled the lead down to 12 on a Lindsey Moore three with 2:50 to play. Tech was able to make key shots down the stretch and limited Nebraska to only five points the rest of the way to seal the win.
Maye added nine points, six assists and three steals in 20 minutes, while freshman Sydney Wallace came off the bench for nine points, three boards and three assists. Senior Sasha Goodlett, starting her 100th career game, tossed in eight points and grabbed five rebounds in 22 minutes.
The Yellow Jackets will take to the road for a matchup with the rival Georgia Lady Bulldogs, ranked 15th in the Associated Press poll and 14th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, at 2 p.m. Sunday in Athens. The contest can be heard on WREK 91.1 FM. CSS will broadcast the game and ESPN3.com will carry the game to a national online audience.
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— RamblinWreck.com –
