Jan. 23, 2003
ATLANTA – Sparked by a pair of overtime three-pointers by junior guard Megan Isom, the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team snapped a five-game winless streak and claimed a dramatic 89-78 overtime victory over Clemson on Thursday night at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Isom led five Yellow Jackets in double figures, finishing with 23 points, 18 of which came on the strength of six threes in the game.
“I just felt like we were pressing too much and we needed to get on our home court and go out and play,” said Tech head coach Agnus Berenato. “My staff did a great job of scouting and preparing and we told the team that if they had a shot, take it. It was a great team effort, but Megan Isom hit so many big threes.”
With the game knotted at 71-71 entering the extra session, the Yellow Jackets (12-6, 1-5) took control against the Tigers (10-7, 2-4 ACC) when Isom put Tech ahead to stay with her first three of the period, with 27 seconds gone to give the Jackets a 74-71 lead. After a free throw by Clemson’s Khaili Sanders, Isom netted her second trey in just under two minutes, giving Tech a 77-72 advantage with 3:07 remaining.
Tech was a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line down the stretch in the overtime, including four apiece from junior guard Alex Stewart and freshman guard Megan Harpring. Harpring finished the game with a career-high 14 points, while Stewart just missed her second-career triple-double, ending with 13 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds.
“Megan Harpring really gave us a lift off the bench, especially defensively,” said Berenato. “She has been playing great defense and tonight she was also contributing offensively.”
For the first time in league play, the Yellow Jackets were able to find the scoring groove they had been seeking in the first half against the Tigers. With both teams starting somewhat slowly and Clemson holding a 15-11 advantage with 11:32 to play in the half, Tech went on a 9-1 run to take a 20-16 lead in the contest. The run was sparked by four points from Stewart and three from Harpring. The Jackets then extended their lead to 39-28 with 52.9 seconds to go on back-to-back threes from Isom and Harpring, before settling for a 39-30 halftime advantage.
In the opening half, the Tigers had no answers for Tech senior center Sonja Mallory, who finished the period with 16 points and seven rebounds. Isom added nine points in the half, while Stewart and Harpring had six apiece.
The Yellow Jackets looked to take control of the game in the second half, taking a 54-44 lead with 11:39 to play as Harpring and Isom combined for nine of Tech’s first 15 points. The Tigers closed the game to just one at 54-53 with a 9-0 run of their own, keyed by four points by Lacey Shafer. Tech took a 67-64 advantage when Sonja Mallory completed a three-point play and Alex Stewart hit one of two free throws after a technical four was assessed to the Clemson bench. Tiger senior Chrissy Floyd notted things again at 67-67 with a three of her own on the next possession, before the two teams traded baskets to force overtime.
“We did a great job of getting it inside to Sonja Mallory in the first half,” said Berenato. “Clemson did a great job of taking that away in the second half.”
Joining Isom, Stewart and Harpring in double-figure scoring was Mallory, who shared game-high scoring honors with Isom, finishing with 23 points and 14 rebounds, for her seventh double-double of the year. Junior forward Fallon Stokes was the fifth Yellow Jacket in double figures, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds. Mallory and Stokes led a Tech attack that claimed an impressive 50-27 rebounding advantage.
Georgia Tech will return to action on Sunday, when it hosts NC State in a game that will tip off at 2 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
