Feb. 21, 2016
Box Score (PDF) | Watch the Postgame Press Conference | Final Stats | Quotes
DURHAM, N.C. – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (16-11, 6-8) won for the first time in 23 years at Cameron Indoor Stadium, defeating Duke 64-59 on Sunday afternoon.
“What an exciting opportunity for our young team,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “We have been getting better and better all year long. We’ve weathered some storms and we’ve lost some really close games to the top teams in the ACC. I felt like in February we really started playing better basketball. I thought tonight, with our leading scorer and the ACC’s leading scorer not shooting particularly well, I thought our other players stepped up and made plays.”
How it Happened
Duke held Georgia Tech scoreless for the first 5:25 of the game until a 3-pointer from sophomore Antonia Peresson made it 10-3 in favor of Duke. O’Neil hit two free throws left with 13.6 to give the Jackets five points in the first period, its lowest point total in a single period this season. Georgia Tech did hold the Blue Devils scoreless for the final five minutes of the first period.
It was the tale of two periods for the Jackets as they came roaring back in the second frame, outscoring the Blue Devils 24-18 to take a 29-28 lead into halftime. Peresson’s first 3-pointer of the game would be the start of a 12-0 run for Georgia Tech, holding the Blue Devils scoreless for 9:30 stretching from the 5:04 mark in the first period to 5:34 in the second. The sophomore duo of Peresson and O’Neil were the key factors for the Jackets in the first half for the two scored 20 of the Jackets’ 29 points. Peresson made four 3-pointers in the first half to lead the Jackets with 12 points in the first 20 minutes.
Coming out of the break, the Blue Devils tied the score at 29-29 eight seconds into the third period. The two teams traded the lead during the next 10 minutes and finished off the period tied again, 43-43, setting the stage for a crucial fourth period.
The Jackets wasted no time getting ahead on the scoreboard, outscoring the Blue Devils 8-0 in the first 2:34 of the fourth period to take a 51-43 advantage. The Yellow Jackets would hold at least a five point lead for the remainder of the period until the Blue Devils fought to come back within three points, 58-55, with 1:51 left. The two teams battled it out in the final minutes, with the Blue Devils even coming with two points of Tech’s 61-59 lead, but the Jackets went 3-for-4 from the foul line in the final nine seconds of the game to secure the historic win.
Historic Win
Georgia Tech and Duke met for the 68th time in school history and the Blue Devils lead the all-time series, 59-9. Last season the Yellow Jackets snapped a 37-game losing streak that spanned from 1995-2014 after upsetting No. 16/17 Duke, 71-62, at McCamish Pavilion on Feb. 26, 2015.
The Yellow Jackets won for the first time at Cameron Indoor Stadium since an 86-80 overtime victory on Jan. 29, 1993. The last time the Jackets won at Cameron Indoor Stadium none of the current Yellow Jackets were born yet. This was Coach Joseph’s first win in Durham. She is 2-16 against the Blue Devils.
Inside the Box Score
Sophomore Antonia Peresson led the Jackets with a career-best 20 points in the win. Senior Roddreka Rogers recorded a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing a matching 11 rebounds. Senior Aaliyah Whiteside also grabbed double figure rebounds, tallying 10 boards and scoring eight points. Junior Katarina Vuckovic scored in double figures, 12 points, while grabbing a career-best five steals. The Yellow Jackets shot 29.6 percent (21-71) but defeated the Blue Devils who shot 45.8 percent (22-48). Tech forced 22 turnovers, scoring 16 points off of Duke’s turnovers.
Antonia For Three!
Antonia Peresson made six 3-pointers, including four in the first half, on her way to a career-high 20 points. Her previous career high was 17 points which scored against Alabama on Dec. 18, 2015. It was the second time this season that Peresson has led the Jackets in scoring. Peresson has made at least three 3-pointers in nine games this season and has hit at least one shot behind the arc in 22 of 26 games. The Yellow Jackets made five 3-pointers in the first half and nine overall.
Rebound 900
With her first rebound against Duke, senior Roddreka Rogers recorded her 900th career rebound becoming just the third Yellow Jacket to grab at least 900 boards in their career. Rogers ranks third on Georgia Tech’s all-time rebounding list with 910 career rebounds. Rogers recorded a double-double for the sixth time this season and the 23rd time in her career. Her 23 career double-doubles lead all active players in the ACC.
Moving Through The Record Book
- With her 11 rebounds against Clemson, Roddreka Rogers has 910 career rebounds and is in third on Georgia Tech’s all-time rebounding list. She is the third Yellow Jacket in women’s basketball history to have at least 900 career rebounds. Dolores Bootz is second on the all-time list with 978 career rebounds.
- After scoring eight points against the Tigers, Aaliyah Whiteside has 1,470 career points and is ninth on Georgia Tech’s all-time scoring list. Whiteside needs 87 more points to tie Joyce Pierce for eighth with 1,557 career points.
- Whiteside became the all-time leader in career free throws against Boston College. Tonight she went 2-for-4 from the foul line and has 462 career made free throws. Heading into tonight’s game, Whiteside ranked second in the nation in career free throws made.
- Whiteside is also 10th on Georgia Tech’s all-time 3-pointers made list with 102 made 3-pointers in her career.
Next Up
Georgia Tech continues its two-game road stretch, heading to Pitt on Thursday, Feb. 25th at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.
–TogetherWeSwarm–
