Nov. 29, 2003
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands – Senior Megan Isom scored 16 second-half points to lead Georgia Tech (3-1) to a 78-71 victory over Southwest Missouri State (2-1) in women’s basketball. Isom hit 5-of-10 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 22-point performance in the final game of the Paradise Jam Tournament.
Isom was one of four Yellow Jackets in double figures; she was followed by seniors Fallon Stokes, with 18 points, and Alex Stewart, who had 12. Sophomore Mallorie Winn also scored 10 for the Jackets.
The Lady Bears took a 27-26 lead into the locker room despite not hitting a field goal over the final 11 minutes of the first half, as they converted on 10-of-12 from the charity stripe over that span to keep the lead. Georgia Tech hit four threes in the half, including two from Isom, while Stokes also scored six. The Jackets held the Lady Bears to just six field goals in the half, while they hit on 10-of-24 shots. Sophomore Jessica Williams led Tech on the defensive end of the court, as she pulled down four rebounds in the frame.
The Lady Jackets went on a 13-7 run to begin the second half and never looked back. Isom and Stokes combined for 28 points in the frame, hitting 11 field goals and going 3-for-8 from the line. Isom scored seven of the Jackets first nine points, including hitting two threes in the first five minutes of the frame. Stokes finished the half for the Jackets, as she hit four of the Jackets final eight field goals. After shooting just 41.7 percent from the field in the opening half, the Jackets converted on 17-of-28 in the second, for a 60.7 percentage.
Georgia Tech was able to hold the Lady Bears top scoring threats, Jenni Lingor and Kari Koch, to just seven field goals from the field. SMS had a more balanced attack, as five players scored in double figures, including Koch, with 16, and Sarah Klaassen, who had 14.
Because of the tournament tie-breaker rules, while Tech, SMS, and West Virginia all finished with the same 2-1 record, SMS won the tournament due to scores against all opponents. Tech finished third, with James Madison finishing fourth.
Georgia Tech will return to Atlanta for its home opener against Davidson on Tuesday evening in a game that will tip-off at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WREK Radio, 91.1 FM, and online at www.ramblinwreck.com. Live stats may also be found at www.ramblinwreck.com. –GT–
