March 2, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Four Yellow Jackets scored in double-figures but it was not enough as the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (21-8, 7-7 ACC) dropped a 103-101 heartbreaking double-overtime lose to Virginia (22-8, 10-4) Sunday afternoon in John Paul Jones Arena.
Janie Mitchell tied a career-high with 26 points and Chioma Nnamaka scored 24 points and hit six-of-eight three-point attempts for Tech in its final regular season game of the season. Jacqua Williams recorded eight steals pushing her season total and school record to 110.
“I am really proud of our kid’s effort today,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “It is very hard to overcome 46 free throws. It was great to see so many step-up when Chioma fouled out with nine minutes left in regulation. As we head into post-season play we are starting to play our best basketball of the season. We are playing extremely hard and just to play better at end-of-game situations.”
The Jackets overcame early foul trouble to open up a 50-35 lead at the end of the first half. Tech’s 50 points was its most scored before halftime this season. The Jackets opened the game hitting their first seven shots to take a 10 point lead but the Cavaliers stormed back to grab a 24-23 lead at 9:52. The Jackets would go on a 9-0 run beginning at 8:48 to help open their big lead.
Virginia came out of the lockerroom on an 8-2 run over the first three minutes to cut into the Tech lead. The Cavaliers continued to push until taking an 80-78 lead with 1:52 remaining in regulation. The Jackets would fall behind once again but a Janie Mitchell jumper tied the game at 82 apiece and sent it into overtime.
Jill Ingram scored six of her 19 points from the free-throw line in the first overtime to give Tech a four-point lead with 36 seconds remaining on the clock. Once again the Wahoos would not give, tying the score for the seventh time of the game on a pair of Lyndra Littles free throws.
The second overtime was more of the same as the two teams went back-and-forth. Jill Ingram hit a lay-up to bring the score even with 11 seconds remaining but Monica Wright hit a jumper in the lane with two seconds on the clock to seal the win for the home team.
Littles led all scorers with 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Virginia. Wright added 28 points and six boards.
The Jackets will open post-season play Thursday at the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Seedings and game times for the tournament will be announced by the ACC office later this evening.
– RamblinWreck.com –
