CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Elizabeth Balogun paced Georgia Tech with 16 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Yellow Jackets dropped a 53-45 decision at Virginia Sunday afternoon. Balogun was one rebound shy of a double-double, securing nine on the afternoon. The loss pushed Tech to 17-10 overall and 7-7 in ACC play.
How It Happened
Georgia Tech used three free throws to lead 12-9 after the first quarter, but a 14.3 percent (2-14) shooting effort in the second frame by the Jackets allowed Virginia to carry a 20-17 lead into halftime. Despite shooting 27.3 percent (3-11) in the second stanza, Virginia won the rebounding battle, 14-6, to outscore Tech 11-5 in the frame. Elizabeth Balogun extended Tech’s lead to 14-9 to open the second quarter before the Cavaliers posted an 11-3 run over the remainder of the frame to take the lead into intermission.
Balogun added four points in the third quarter as both teams chipped in 12 points for a 32-29 Virginia lead at the break. The Jackets were held without a field goal in the third stanza until Kierra Fletcher connected from the floor at the 3:36 mark for a 28-20 score. The Jackets slowly continued to chip away at its deficit and regained the advantage on a Balogun jumper at 8:32 in the fourth, 33-32. The teams would toss the lead back-and-forth until Balogun converted a three-point play for a 45-44 Georgia Tech lead. Dominique Toussaint quickly handed the lead back to Virginia, hitting a triple, followed by a layup from Lisa Jablonoqski for a 49-45 Cavalier edge with 49.6 on the clock. Virginia closed the game hitting 4-of-4 free throw attempts to cap a 9-0 run down the stretch to seal the win.
Tech Tidbits
* Georgia Tech shot 20.7 percent (6-29) in the first half and was outrebounded 25-18
* The Jackets and Cavaliers both committed seven turnovers in the first 20 minutes
* For the game, Tech shot 24.6 percent (16-65) from the field and 16.1 percent (5-31) from three-point range
* Virginia shot 38.3 percent (18-47) from the floor, 27.3 percent (3-11) from three-point range and 63.6 percent (14-22) from the charity stripe
* The Cavaliers dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle, 48-35, paced by a pair of double-doubles from Toussaint and Jocelyn Willoughby
* Tech scored 17 second chance points on 15 offensive rebounds
* Balogun led the Jackets offensively with 16 points and was the only Jacket to finish in double-figures
Next Up
The Jackets continue this road swing, traveling to No. 14 Miami for a Thursday tilt. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. on RSN, locally on Fox Sports South in Atlanta.
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