ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team won its fourth consecutive game, routing St. Francis (Pa.), 95-51, in the opening game of the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Marriott Northwest Classic this afternoon at O’Keefe Arena.
Sophomore center Sonja Mallory scored a career-high 21 points as she led four Georgia Tech players with at least 17 points. Senior Jaime Kruppa (19 points, 12 rebounds) and junior Milli Martinez (17 points, 12 rebounds, six steals) each posted double-doubles for the second straight game. Sophomore Niesha Butler scored 19 points and tallied a season-high seven assists as the Yellow Jackets extended their winning streak to four games.
Georgia Tech never trailed and sprinted to a 15-3 lead to open the game, but had to fight off St. Francis in the first half. The Red Flash pulled to within three points with seven and a half minutes left in the first period and trailed by eight at halftime. They would get no closer.
Georgia Tech used a dominating rebounding performance to put the game away and led by as many as 47 points. The Yellow Jackets set a new school record for rebounding margin, claiming a 60-26 advantage. Tech’s previous record of plus-33 was set just 10 days ago at Wagner.
The Yellow Jackets shot 44 percent from the field and held St. Francis to a 32 percent mark. The Red Flash was led by Tonjee Ward (12 points) and Carlin Chesick (11 points, eight rebounds).
Georgia Tech (7-3) faces Fresno State (4-7) tomorrow at 4:00 in the championship game of the tournament. St. Francis (1-8) will play Alabama State (8-2) in the consolation game.
Fresno State 72, Alabama State 69
ATLANTA – Fresno State out-lasted Alabama State, 72-69, in a thriller at O’Keefe Gymnasium. In a game which featured 12 ties and 14 lead changes, the Bulldogs came out on top. Both teams made 26 field goals and eight three pointers. Fresno State edged the Lady Hornets at the charity stripe, making three more free throws than ASU.
Sophomore Lindsay Logan scored 22 points and sophomore Omelogo Udeze added 20 points and 13 rebounds to pace Fresno State, which improved to 4-7 on the year.
Nichole Miller led Alabama State with 22 points and Shameka Jackson added 15 points, but ASU fell to 8-2.
