ATLANTA, Ga. – Three Yellow Jackets scored in double-figures as head coach MaChelle Joseph recorded her 300th career victory at Georgia Tech with a 78-71 win over Georgia State on Sunday. Joseph’s 300th career win pushed Tech to a 6-2 record this season as Francesca Pan led the way offensively, pouring in a game-high 22 points.
“We knew coming in Georgia State was going to be a tough opponent,” noted Joseph. “They are always tough when we play here. I’m really pleased with how we played down the stretch and learning to win on the road is always important. We had some adversity today – we had more fouls than we normally do and we turned the ball over more than we normally do – so getting over this hump on the road was important.”
How It Happened
The Panthers kept it close in the first quarter and held the early lead before Lorela Cubaj connected on a pair of free throws to jumpstart a 10-0 Tech run that handed the Jackets a 12-6 advantage with 2:36 to play in the opening frame. Pan hit a triple to end the stanza, leaving Tech with the same point advantage, 19-13, to start the second quarter. Georgia State would come within four points in the second quarter, but Tech closed the half with a 7-0 spurt to carry a 35-24 lead into halftime.
The Jackets led by double-digits the majority of the third period, but GSU used a 12-point second half effort from Madison Ervin to close within five points with three minutes left in the game. Tech led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter following a pair of free throws from Kierra Fletcher before Ervin hit a three-pointer to spark a 14-6 GSU run for a 69-64 tally with three minutes to go. Pan scored seven points in the final minutes to help lift the Jackets to a 78-71 victory.
With the win, Joseph moved her all-time career record to 300-193 at Georgia Tech. In her 16th season, Joseph is the all-time winningest coach in program history.
“It’s great because being able to accomplish that all at Georgia Tech is special to me,” said Joseph on her 300th victory. “We’ve done a lot of special things in the last 16 years, but I honestly believe, the best is yet to come.”
Tech Tidbits
* Pan finished with a game-high 22 points followed by a career-high 15 points from D’asia Gregg off the bench and 14 points from Chanin Scott
* The Jackets won the rebounding battle, 34-26, paced by seven rebounds from Fletcher and Gregg
* Behind an 8-for-10 showing from the charity stripe from Gregg, Tech finished 20-for-24 (83.3 percent) at the free throw line
* GSU shot 50.0 percent (25-50) from the field for the game led by Jada Lewis with 16 points
* The Panthers hit eight three-pointers, but were 13-for-21 at the free throw line
* Tech shot 44.8 percent (26-58) from the field
Next Up
Closing out this four-game road swing, Georgia Tech returns to McCamish Pavilion on Wednesday to host Alabama State. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
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.
