December 18, 2015

@GTWBB Rolls to 70-58 Win vs. Alabama

Dec. 18, 2015

THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (9-3) sank 12 3-point shots on its way to a 70-58 victory against Alabama (9-2) on Friday night at McCamish Pavilion.

“The 40 points off the bench were huge,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “Ciani Cryor, Antonia Peresson, Chelsea Guimaraes and Zaire O’Neil did a great job and gave us a huge shot in the arm.”

How it Happened
The Yellow Jackets found success from behind the arc in the first period, shooting 50 percent from behind the 3-point line. Tech sank four 3-pointers in the first period to take a 15-10 lead at the first quarter break.

Georgia Tech got its spark from a 16-3 run over 5:07 in the second period to go ahead 31-15 against the Crimson Tide. Freshman Ciani Cryor scored seven points during the run and hit fellow freshman Chelsea Guimaraes with a full court pass for a layup. Senior Aaliyah Whiteside kept the momentum going for the Jackets heading into the half, hitting a jumper at the buzzer to secure Tech’s 40-25 halftime lead.

The Yellow Jackets went 7-for-14 from 3-point range in the first half and Cryor was lead scorer for the Jackets in the first 20 minutes, scoring 10 points.

Sophomore Antonia Peresson was the star of the third period, sinking four 3-pointers to help Georgia Tech to a 60-41 lead at the final break. Peresson scored 14 of Tech’s 21 points in the frame.

Alabama erased a 20 deficit in the fourth quarter to get within 12 points of Tech’s 70-58 lead with 2:23 left but both teams failed to score in the remaining two minutes and the Yellow Jackets preserved their undefeated home record at 8-0.

Inside the Box Score
Georgia Tech’s seven made 3-pointers in the first half tied for second on Tech single’s game list for made 3-pointers in a half. The Yellow Jackets made 12 3-pointers in the win which is second-most all-time in Georgia Tech history. Georgia Tech’s bench scored 40 points, with freshman Ciani Cryor and sophomore Antonia Peresson teaming up to net 34 of those 40 points. The Yellow Jackets forced the Crimson Tide to turn the ball over 20 times.

Career Nights
Georgia Tech was led on offense by Cryor and Peresson who each score 17 points apiece. The 17 points were a career-high for Cryor who also had five assists and five steals in the win. Peresson tied her career-high 17 points and made five 3-pointers. She previously scored 17 points against Virginia Tech on Feb. 1, 2015.

Tech Tidbits

This was Georgia Tech’s first win against Alabama. The Crimson Tide now leads the series, 3-1.
With the win, the Yellow Jackets are still undefeated at home at 8-0 and are averaging 84.2 points per game when playing on the Flats. In the past three seasons, Tech is 21-1 in nonconference home games.
Tonight’s victory was the 241^st of Coach Joseph’s career. She is now 241-152 in her 13 seasons at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.
Senior Roddreka Rogers ranks ninth on Georgia Tech’s all-time rebounding list after adding 12 rebounds to her total after today’s game against Alabama. Rogers, who now has 791 career rebounds, is 10 rebounds away from tying Regina Tate (1988-2002) and LeeAnn Woodhull (1980-83) for seventh with 801.
This was Rogers fourth time this season and 31^st in her career grabbing at least 10 rebounds. She has led the Jackets in rebounding four times this season and 37 times in her career.
Freshman Ciani Cryor scored in double-figures for the third time this season, tallying a season-high 17 points against Alabama. She scored 10 points before the half, sinking two 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes of play.
The seven made 3-pointers in the first half tie for second on Tech single’s game list for made 3-pointers in a half.
Whiteside is 20^th Georgia Tech’s all-time scoring list with 1,169 career points. She is 61 points away from tying Marielle Walker for 19^th.
This was the first game this season that Whiteside did not score in double-figures, breaking an 18-game double digit scoring streak that dated back to last season.