THE FLATS – Three Yellow Jackets posted double-figure scoring numbers, but it wasn’t enough as Georgia Tech dropped a 76-55 decision to No. 2 Notre Dame on Sunday. With the loss, Tech fell to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in ACC play.
“When we got in foul trouble, we weren’t able to get anybody off the bench that could come in and maintain the level of play that we had,” commented head coach MaChelle Joseph. “I’m proud of what we did on the boards, but we gave up 60 points in the paint. Our freshmen have to learn how to play defense. They’re trying to play defense without fouling and trying to learn that whole process, and I thought today we were a little soft. Defensively we did what we needed to do to win, we just didn’t score.”
How It Happened
Georgia Tech bounced on an early lead over Notre Dame, coming out with an 8-2 edge fueled by four points from Elizabeth Balogun, but the Fighting Irish gained momentum and took its final lead after the first media timeout. Kierra Fletcher hit a jumper as time expired at the end of the first quarter to setup a one possession ballgame entering the second stanza before Notre Dame outscored the Jackets, 21-7, to lead 39-22 at halftime.
The Jackets had a late spark in the third frame, putting forward a 6-0 spurt over 1:42 of playing time to cut the score to 56-38. Notre Dame narrowly outscored Tech in the final stanza and the Jackets closed the game with an 11-2 run for the final 76-55 tally.
Tech Tidbits
* Balogun led the Jackets offensively with 14 points, followed by Elizabeth Dixon with 12 points and Francesca Pan with 10 points
* Tech kept a close edge on the rebounding numbers with ND holding the slight edge, 34-33
* Lorela Cubaj and Dixon each pulled down seven boards to lead Tech on the glass
* Kierra Fletcher finished with a team-high six assists
* Notre Dame posted 30 assists on 34 made field goals led by Arike Ogunbowale with 12 assists
* The Fighting Irish were led by Jessica Shepard with 19 points
* For the game, Tech shot 36.1 percent (22-61), while Notre Dame shot 54.8 percent (34-62)
* Notre Dame outscored Tech in the paint, 60-20
Next Up
Georgia Tech continues this homestand on Thursday, welcoming Duke for a 7 p.m. tip on ACC Network Extra.
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