Feb. 5, 2007
Blacksburg, Va. – Georgia Tech (15-8, 5-4) hung with the Hokies until the bitter end Thursday, but Kirby Copeland’s 25 points for Virginia Tech and their 31 trips to the free-throw line were hurdles the Jackets could not overcome, falling 73-68 to Virginia Tech (16-9, 5-4).
The Jackets were out rebounded for only the fourth time this season in the loss and only shot 18 percent from three-point land.
The Jackets shot well from the field in the first half though, jumping out to an early 11-point lead eight minutes into the game going on a 8-to-0 run that started with a Chioma Nnamaka 3-pointer. The lead would be the Jackets’ largest of the game.
Georgia Tech maintained their lead until 5:37 to play in the half when Copeland’s layin tied the game at 29-29.
The Hokies led at the break, 40-34, thanks to back-to-back Copeland jumpers to close the half.
The Jackets remained behind in the second half until Jill Ingram drained a baseline 3-pointer for the second tie score of the game, 58-58, with 6:00 to play.
The Hokies quickly regained the lead when Brittany Cook rebounded a missed free throw for a score and the Hokies never held on to their slim advantage the rest of the way.
The Jackets and the Hokies swapped leads four times in a game that had five tie scores.
With under 1:00 to play, Jacqua Williams earned her fifth foul of the game sending her to the bench and leaving Georgia Tech without one of their best defenders and down by four points.
With under :05 left on the clock, Janie Mitchell rebounded a Brittany Anderson missed free throw and heaved it up to Kentrina Wilson for the lay up, cutting the Hokie lead to just five points, but the Jackets couldn’t do much with the less than :02 left on the clock.
Janie Mitchell led the Jackets with 16 points, while Stephanie Higgs added 15 points. With her 11 points Monday, Chioma Nnamaka sits just two points shy of her 1,000th career point. Nnamaka led the Jackets in rebounding with six boards.
With the loss, the Jackets slip to 5-and-4 in the ACC.
The Jackets return to the hardwood Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. when they face Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. The game between Georgia Tech and Florida State will air on Fox Sports South.
