Feb. 15, 2004
ATLANTA – Fallon Stokes hit a jumper with 58 seconds remaining and Alex Stewart converted on a pair of free throws to help Georgia Tech (13-11, 4-8) to a 58-57 win over Maryland (15-9, 7-6) Sunday afternoon at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
“I think that we’ve been playing with a lot of heart, desire, and pride,” said Tech head coach MaChelle Joseph. “This is a special team, and I think what we’ve seen over the last couple of games is our chemistry and ability to play together.”
Stokes hit a jumper under heavy pressure to make the score 56-55 in favor of the Jackets, giving Tech the lead for the first time since it lead 39-37 with 11:08 on the clock in the second half. Following a missed jumper by the Terps, Stewart converted both free throws to pull the Jackets ahead by three with under 24 seconds remaining on the clock, making the score 58-55. Maryland turned the ball over and immediately fouled Stewart to set up another 1-and-1 situation at the line for the senior point guard. After she missed the first charity shot, the Terps had a chance to tie the game, but Kalika France’s three at the end was rebounded by Delvona Oliver and put back in for a layup with under a second remaining, giving the Jackets the one-point victory.
“Fallon hit some big shots for us today, and Megan came up with that big three at the end of the game,” said Joseph. “Obviously, it’s a luxury to have seniors like Fallon and Megan step up and make clutch plays, and that’s what they did today.”
Stokes paced four Jackets in double figures, scoring 18 points and pulling down six rebounds, while Megan Harpring added 12, Stewart, 11, and Isom, 10. April Johnson tied Stokes with six rebounds in the contest, while Stewart led the Jackets with seven assists. Terry blocked two Maryland shots while Harpring, in her third consecutive start and ninth of the season, had two steals for Tech.
“Megan (Harpring) is a tremendous competitor,” said Joseph. “She plays with a lot of fire and spirit and I think she’s helped us to take that approach into the beginning of games. We’ve sort of taken on her personality as a team.”
“She really plays with a lot of enthusiasm and is always pumped up,” said Isom. “You can’t say enough about someone that is coming in there and is always excited, always cheering and positive. It makes a big difference.”
With Maryland leading 53-47, Megan Isom hit a three-pointer, her second of the game, to pull the Jackets within three with 3:28 remaining in the contest. The Jackets forced a turnover at the Terrapins’ end of the court to set up a Stokes jumper to make the score 53-52 in favor of the Terps. Following a Maryland timeout, Oliver hit a jumper, making the score 55-52 with 2:29 on the clock, but the Jackets responded with another Stokes jumper at 1:39 following a missed field goal and offensive rebound by the Jackets.
With the score 5-0 in favor of the Jackets, Maryland went on a 12-0 run, capped by a pair of jumpers from Crystal Washington with 12:40 on the clock. The Terps and Tech traded buckets until the Jackets begin an 11-0 run at 7:01, capped by a jumper from Kasha Terry at 4:10 to make the score 25-19. Tech took a 31-23 lead into the lockerroom, led by Alex Stewart, Harpring, and Stokes, all with eight points, while Maryland was led by Shay Doron and Chrissy Fisher, with seven points apiece.
Maryland had four players in double figures on the afternoon, with Washington and France scoring 13 apiece while Oliver and Fisher added 10.
The Tech women will return to action when they travel to Clemson to take on the Tigers Thursday evening at 7 p.m. The Yellow Jackets will broadcast the game on WREK-Radio, 91.1 FM in Atlanta, and online at www.wrek.org, while livestats for the contest are available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
