HOUSTON, TEXAS – Kayla Blackshear converted a three-point play with 44 seconds in the game as Georgia Tech stormed back inside Tudor Fieldhouse for a 78-75 victory over Rice on Thursday evening. Five Yellow Jackets finished in double-figures, led by Blackshear with 21 points, to lift the Jackets to victory.
After falling behind by as many as 17 points, Georgia Tech (3-0) climbed back in the second half. With less than two minutes to play in the third quarter, trailing 60-47, Inés Noguero hit a triple to jumpstart a 7-0 run by the Jackets to finish the frame and slice the score to 60-54.
Tech would finish the comeback, outscoring the Owls (2-2) in the fourth quarter, 24-15. The Yellow Jackets and Owls traded baskets back-and-forth to open the final period before D’Asia Thomas-Harris hit a jumper at the 6:00 minute mark to close the gap to 67-65. Rice hit a pair of unanswered buckets to regain a six-point lead, but the Jackets did not falter. Tonie Morgan and Noguero combined for an 8-2 spurt, fueled by two three-pointers, to knot the game at 73-73 with 2:02 to play.
Malia Fisher hit a pair of free throws for the Owls with 1:10 left, but the pivotal play came from Blackshear who hit a layup and converted the three-point play to return the lead to Georgia Tech for the first time since the first possession of the game, 76-75. Noguero capped the offensive spurt from the Jackets with two free throws with 14.4 seconds on the clock, setting up the final 78-75 score. Rice got a three-point attempt off in the final seconds, but it wasn’t on the mark, sealing the Georgia Tech comeback victory.
Georgia Tech owned the second half, winning the final two periods, 47-30, and shot 51.7 percent (15-29) in the half. Blackshear posted 12 points in the second half, while Morgan added 10 points. Additionally, the Jackets won the battle on the glass in the second half, 21-12, paced by Thomas-Harris’ eight rebounds.
For the game, Tech shot 43.3 percent (26-60) fueled by five in double-figures. Blackshear led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Noguero (16), Morgan (13) and Rusne Augustinaite (12) and Thomas-Harris (12). Local native, Thomas-Harris, put on a performance in front of her hometown crowd, finishing with her first career double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds, while leading the Jackets on the glass.
Rice was led by Destiny Jackson with 13 points, Dominique Ennis (11) and Fisher (11). The Owls held a 45-31 lead at halftime.
Georgia Tech returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 19 when it welcomes Kennesaw State to McCamish Pavilion. Tip is slated for 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Competitive Drive Initiative Turn 2
Looking to build on the success of last year’s Competitive Drive Initiative, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech Foundation and Georgia Tech athletics are partnering once again to launch Competitive Drive Initiative Turn 2. CDI Turn 2 has a goal of raising $2.5 million in new gifts to the Alexander-Tharpe Fund’s Athletic Scholarship Fund by Dec. 31, and Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Foundation will match eligible gifts to accelerate the impact for Tech athletics. Like last year, not only will gifts to CDI Turn 2 be matched, but so will the contributor’s benefits in the way of A-T Fund giving levels and priority points. To learn more and contribute online, visit atfund.org/turn2.
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