Dec. 30, 2010
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (11-4) opened its game with Tennessee State (4-9) in nearly identical fashion as the way the its last contest with Mercer ended, shooting very well and playing extremely good defense, as Tech cruised to an 82-11 win.
The defense was unlike the NCAA has ever seen before, tying the record for fewest points allowed in a half (three) and setting the record for fewest points allowed in an NCAA Division I game (11).
The Florida Gators held Savannah State to only three points in the first half of a Nov. 23, 2003, contest and TCU limited Texas Southern to only 16 total points in a game, exactly eight years ago to the day – Dec. 30, 2002.
“It’s exciting to me [setting or tying NCAA records] only in the fact that when we started this program we said we’re building this program on defense and rebounding,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “The fact that we can tie or set an NCAA record for defense is something I’d much rather do that than for offense because that’s one of the things we talk about, is how important our defense is. Your offense comes and goes. Your defense is something that can carry you. We want to be known as a defensive program.”
Georgia Tech opened the game with a bang as Tyaunna Marshall controlled the tip and raced in for an uncontested layup just three seconds in. The pace never slowed as the Jackets opened the game on a 27-0 run before the Lady Tigers’ Jasmine Brimm converted a pair of free throws at the 11:05 mark of the first half. Tech would string together another 19 straight points before Brimm hit her third free throw of the half, making the score 46-3 at the 3:37 point.
Brimm finished the game as Tennessee State’s leading scorer, with six points, four of which came at the charity stripe. Adding to the Lady Tigers scoring was Jasmin Shuler and Avery Jones who each had two points, and Meredith Stafford with a free throw. For the game, the Lady Tigers were 3-of-50 from the field and 5-of-10 from the free throw line.
“I talked to our team about the fact that you go from being a good team to a great team by showing up and playing the same way no matter who you are playing. Those are the great teams. That’s one of the things I’ve said in the past, we’ve raised the bar here, we’re not going to show up and play to the level of our opponent, we’re going to play at our level every night regardless of who we’re playing. We played so many great teams early in the schedule that it made us a better team. We’re a lot tougher and we do have a higher intensity level than we’ve had in the past at this time of year.”
The Yellow Jackets’ 71-point margin of victory tied for fourth-largest in the program’s record books and Tech has won its past two games by an average of 64 points. Keying the Jackets’ success at both ends was their stifling defense. Tech forced a season-high 35 turnovers and turned them into 43 points on the offensive end.
Georgia Tech was led by junior Chelsea Regins and Marshall, who each finished with 16 points. The 16 tallies set a new career-best for Regins as she also added six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. Marshall had 14 of her 16 in the first half on 7-of-9 shooting.
Senior Alex Montgomery finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds, her fifth double-double of the game and tying her season high rebound mark. Junior center Sasha Goodlett returned to the starting line and tallied 10 points and five rebounds in only 13 minutes of action. Freshman Dawnn Maye tossed in a career-high nine points, to go with three assists and three steals in 22 minutes.
The Jackets will finish the non-conference portion of their schedule on Sunday when the Jacksonville State Gamecocks come to Alexander Memorial Coliseum for a 2 p.m. contest. For tickets and more information, visit RamblinWreck.com. Fans can listen live on WREK, follow live stats through RamblinWrek.com or live updates through Twitter, @GTWBB.
POST-GAME NOTES
Georgia Tech (11-4, 0-0) vs. Tennessee State (4-9, 1-3)
Team
– Set new NCAA Record for lowest points allowed in a game with 11. (Former record: 16 by TCU vs. Texas Southern on Dec. 30, 2002).
– Has scored a basket within first five seconds of game in two of last three contests.
– Opened game on a 27-0 run and did not allow a Tennessee State point until 11:05 left in first half (a pair of free throws by Jasmine Brimm).
– Tied NCAA Record for fewest points allowed in a half with 3 (last time: 3–Savannah St. vs. Florida St. (54), Nov. 23, 2003 (1st Half).
– Held Tennessee State to 0-24 shooting from the field in the first half.
– Held Tennessee State to only 3-50 (.006) from the field in the game.
– Allowed first field goal with 15:52 left in the second half.
– The 71-point margin of victory ranks tied for fourth in the program’s record books.
– Held its largest lead of the season at 74 points with 3:59 remaining in the second half.
– Recorded season-highs in assists (22) and rebounds (59).
– Forced a season-high 35 turnovers.
– Scored an impressive 43 points off turnovers to only 1 by Tennessee State.
– Moves to 8-1 at home this season.
– Has won its last two games by an average of 64 points.
Head Coach MaChelle Joseph
– Moves to 140-90 (.609) in her career.
– Moves to 89-25 (.781) in the AMC.
Freshman Ty Marshall
– Has scored in double figures for the 10th time this season.
Senior Alex Montgomery
– Finished in double figures for the 72nd time in her career.
– Recorded 14th career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
– Has 1,295 points in her career and needs eight to pass LeeAnn Woodhull for 11th place in Georgia Tech history.
Junior Chelsea Regins
– Set a career-high with 16 points
– Has scored in double figures in two straight games and six times in her career.
Junior Sasha Goodlett
– Finished in double figures in three of the last four games and 28 times in her career.
–RamblinWreck.com–
