ESTERO, Fla. – Tonie Morgan scored a personal-best 17 points in the opening game of the Gulf Coast Showcase, but it wasn’t enough as Georgia Tech dropped a 63-50 decision to South Florida on Friday in Hertz Arena. The loss moved Tech to 3-2 on the season.
USF (7-0) used a 14-for-16 showing at the free throw line in the first half to hold the lead at intermission. The Bulls went 9-for-10 from the charity stripe in the opening frame to build its largest lead of 14 points, 18-4, following a pair from Sammie Puisis at the 4:05 mark. Aixa Wone Aranaz hit Tech’s first field goal in a four-minute span, pocketing back-to-back buckets to setup an 18-8 tally.
The Jackets opened the second quarter with a 12-4 spurt, fueled by six points from Morgan, to slice its deficit to 29-24 with 2:46 to play. USF headed to the locker room with a 35-26 lead courtesy of four free throws and a field goal to close the half. Georgia Tech cut its deficit to singles digits in both of the final quarters, but USF hit a three-pointer each time to answer the rally to maintain a comfortable lead.
Morgan finished with a team-high 17 points for a personal-best, while also leading the Jackets on the boards with seven rebounds. Tech was held to under 30.0 percent shooting for the first time this season, connecting on just 27.9 percent (17-61) from the field, and was out-rebounded for the third-straight game, 50-34.
USF was paced by Elena Tsineke with 24 points. She was followed by Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu with 19 points and a game-high 21 rebounds. The Bulls hit just 32.2 percent (19-59) from the floor, but shot 87.0 percent (20-23) from the free throw line. On the glass, USF secured 21 offensive rebounds, converting for 22 second chance points.
Georgia Tech returns to action for game two of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Air Force. Action will be covered on FloHoops.
Competitive Drive Initiative
In a unified endeavor, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech Foundation, Georgia Tech athletics and the Alexander-Tharpe Fund have come together to accelerate funding for student-athlete scholarships with the launch of the Competitive Drive Initiative. The initiative kicks off with the Accelerate GT Match Program, where any new gift to the A-T Fund’s Athletic Scholarship Fund made through Dec. 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Georgia Tech Foundation, up to $2.5 million. Should Accelerate GT reach its $2.5 million fundraising goal, the matching gift would result in a $5 million impact for Georgia Tech athletics. To learn more and to contribute online, visit atfund.org/accelerate.
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