CANCUN, MEXICO – Kayla Blackshear and Tonie Morgan both finished in double-figures, but it wasn’t enough as Georgia Tech dropped a tough 57-46 decision in its opening game of the Cancun Challenge on Thursday evening. Blackshear and Morgan combined to score 26 points.
A slow start from Georgia Tech (4-1) allowed Creighton (4-1) to push out to a double-figure lead in the opening 10 minutes. Hitting only two field goals in the first frame, the Jackets trailed 19-6 entering the second stanza, but regrouped and outscored the Bluejays, 19-8, in the second period to trail by one possession at halftime. Tech shot 8-for-13 from the field in the second quarter, distributing its offense amongst five players to trail 27-24 at intermission. But Creighton used a 9-0 run out of the break to regain control of the game and hit five triples in the second half, while Tech was held scoreless from three-point range. Tech won the fourth quarter, but shot only 27 percent in the second half to drop the contest.
Blackshear led Tech with 14 points followed by Morgan with 12. Kara Dunn returned to action, coming off the bench to finish with eight points. Morgan nearly missed a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds and led Tech for the fifth game in assists with three.
Creighton shot 50.0 percent (10-for-20) from three-point distance to help secure the win. Lauren Jensen finished with a game-high 16 points, connecting on four triples, while Mallory Blake led on the glass with 10 rebounds. The Bluejays dished out 18 assists and shot 32.3 percent (20-62) from the floor.
The Yellow Jackets close out the tournament on Friday facing New Mexico. Tip is slated for 6:30 p.m. in the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
Competitive Drive Initiative Turn 2
Looking to build on the success of last year’s Competitive Drive Initiative, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech Foundation and Georgia Tech athletics are partnering once again to launch Competitive Drive Initiative Turn 2. CDI Turn 2 has a goal of raising $2.5 million in new gifts to the Alexander-Tharpe Fund’s Athletic Scholarship Fund by Dec. 31, and Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Foundation will match eligible gifts to accelerate the impact for Tech athletics. Like last year, not only will gifts to CDI Turn 2 be matched, but so will the contributor’s benefits in the way of A-T Fund giving levels and priority points. To learn more and contribute online, visit atfund.org/turn2.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTWBB), Instagram (GTWBB), Facebook (Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
