BLACKSBURG, Va. – Lotta-Maj Lahtinen scored 21 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as Georgia Tech dropped a 73-63 decision at Virginia Tech Thursday night. Four Yellow Jackets finished in double-figures and Lorela Cubaj notched her 10th double-double of the season.
After being held scoreless in the first half, Lahtinen dropped double-digits in the third quarter, fueling the Jackets offensively. She finished with 13 in the frame, carrying the Jackets back within 13 points on an old-fashioned three-point play. The Hokies extended its lead back out to 16 points, but Georgia Tech came out in the fourth quarter on fire. Sarah Bates and Lahtinen hit back-to-back three-pointers, forcing VT to call a timeout, and the Jackets extended its run to 11-1 to close the gap to 55-49 with 7:09 to play.
VT built its lead back out to 12 points, but the Jackets continued to fight and a Cubaj old-fashioned three-point play followed by Bates’ fifth three-pointer of the night brought the Jackets to within five, 64-59, with 3:26 to play. But Georgia Tech wouldn’t get any closer as the Hokies sealed the win.
Virginia Tech used a 53.6 percent (15-28) shooting clip in the first half fueled by 12 points each from Elizabeth Kitley and Aisha Sheppard to build a double-digit lead. Bates led the Jackets with nine points in the opening two frames, draining a trio of three-pointers.
Lahtinen’s 21 points marked a season-high for the Jacket as the senior hit four three-pointers and finished with four assists and two steals. Bates added a season-high 17 points, matching her season-best five three-pointers. Cubaj finished with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Nerea Hermosa added 10 to the scoreboard and six assists. Georgia Tech won the second half, 42-34.
Virginia Tech was led by Georgia Amoore with 21 points, followed by Kitley with 18 points. The Hokies shot 52.9 percent from the field and narrowly won the rebounding battle, 30-29. Virginia Tech finished 10-for-14 from the free throw line, while the Jackets were limited to a 2-for-2 showing.
Georgia Tech returns home to open a three-game homestand beginning on Sunday, Feb. 13, welcoming Clemson. Tip is slated for 12 p.m. on RSN.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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