THE FLATS — Georgia Tech held No. 7/2 Notre Dame to its lowest offensive output of the season, but could not overcome the Fighting Irish, dropping a 55-38 decision to open ACC play Monday night in McCamish Pavilion.
“I’m disappointed obviously in our offense. When you hold Notre Dame to 55 points, you expect to have a chance to win,” said head coach MaChelle Joseph. “I just felt like we had nobody that was making shots. I thought Zaire [O’Neil] had a hard time inside. I really felt like she was getting some good looks at the basket and wasn’t able to get to the free throw line. They did a great job of changing defenses on us. That’s really hard to play against for a young team, especially freshmen guards and you could tell it rattled us. I thought that was a factor tonight.”
How It Happened
Georgia Tech held Notre Dame close in the first quarter despite shooting just 15.0 percent from the field in the opening stanza. An 8-1 run from the Fighting Irish to close the quarter handed the visiting squad a 17-9 advantage heading into the second frame. Elo Edeferioka snapped a 5-0 spurt from ND to open the frame, but the Irish responded with a 12-0 run over a seven minute span to open up a 34-11 lead with 2:49 left in the first half. Tech would close the frame with a 6-0 run to move the score to 34-17 in favor of Notre Dame at halftime.
Notre Dame held a double-digit lead the entire second half using a 23-2 run that spanned both halves despite Tech’s defense limiting the Fighting Irish to a 29.2 percent shooting efficiency and 10 turnovers in the period. Tech shot 26.9 percent in the second half.
Tech Tidbits
* Tech’s 15.0 percent shooting clip in the first quarter marks the lowest in a quarter this season and its 24.1 percent efficiency for the game marks the lowest of the season
* For the first time this season, Georgia Tech was held without a player scoring in double-figures as Zaire O’Neil led with nine points
* O’Neil finished with 13 rebounds, 10 on the offensive glass
* The teams finished tied on the rebounding battle, 40-40
* Georgia Tech outscored Notre Dame 11-5 on second chance points, winning the offensive rebound battle 20-13
Next Up
Georgia Tech wraps up this three-game homestand welcoming No. 13 Duke on Thursday. Tip inside McCamish Pavilion is slated for 7 p.m.
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