THE FLATS – Kayla Blackshear and Tonie Morgan combined to score 44 points as Georgia Tech cruised to an 83-53 victory over Coastal Carolina on Monday morning in McCamish Pavilion. It was the season-opener for both teams.
Georgia Tech built out a double-digit lead in the first quarter, but the Chanticleers cut it to four points early in the second frame, 22-18. Behind consistent shooting from Morgan and Blackshear, who both pitched in double-figures in the first half, Tech slowly built its lead back out to a comfortable advantage. Tech closed the half with a 10-1 spurt to lead 42-24 at the break.
The closest the Chanticleers would come in the second half was 15 points in the third frame as Tech would shoot 54.8 percent (17-31) in the final two periods to outscore Coastal Carolina, 41-29. Blackshear dropped in 13 points in the second half, 11 in the fourth quarter alone, while freshman Rusne Augustinaite, who finished with 14 points on the day, chipped in nine in the final 20 minutes.
Blackshear and Morgan posted career-highs in scoring with Blackshear leading all scorers on the day with 24 points. Morgan added 20 to the scoreboard and led the Jackets in assists (7) and rebounds (7). Inés Noguero rounded out Tech’s quartet of Jackets in double-figures, contributing 10 points. Tech connected on seven three-pointers against the Chanticleers with Augustinaite hitting a game-high four.
Coastal Carolina was led in scoring by Deaja Richardson with 15 points, while Alancia Ramsey led on the glass with 10 rebounds. The Chanticleers shot 28.1 percent (18-64) from the field to Tech’s 51.6 percent (33-64).
A crowd of 4,963, the second-largest for a women’s basketball game in McCamish Pavilion history, helped lead Georgia Tech to victory. Over 3,000 Atlanta Public School elementary kids were in attendance for “Education Day.”
The Yellow Jackets continue this season-opening homestand on Saturday, Nov. 11 welcoming Furman to McCamish Pavilion. Tip is slated for 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Head coach Nell Fortner postgame press conference vs. Coastal Carolina
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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