The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team completed its first season sweep of the North Carolina Tar Heels since the 1990-91 season with a 64-57 win on Thursday night at Carmichael Arena. It is only the third time in the history of the Tech program the Jackets have completed the feat.
With the win, the Jackets improved to 21-8 on the season and 9-4 in ACC play, while the Tar Heels fall to 22-6 and 8-5 in the ACC. The win was Tech’s first win in Chapel Hill since Jan. 17, 2002, which was also the last time the Jackets defeated a Top 25 team on the road.
The nine league wins tie the Georgia Tech record for most ACC wins in a season, which the 2006-07 team accomplished with a 9-5 record. Seniors Alex Montgomery and Deja Foster tied the most wins by a Tech senior class with 88 and the Tech record for most ACC wins by one class with 32.The pair has a chance to break both of those records on Senior Day on the Flats when Tech hosts No. 12 Miami on Sunday.
“I’m very proud of my team and the way we came in here and battled today,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “Any time you go on the road, especially at a historic program like North Carolina, you know you’re in for a battle. I thought tonight you saw that battle between two very athletic teams, two very good teams in the ACC, the best conference in women’s basketball, in my opinion.”
On UNC’s senior night, Tech senior Alex Montgomery stepped up in a big time way and scored a game-high 22 points, including four three pointers. Junior center Sasha Goodlett did not score in the first half and finished with 13 points, while classmate Metra Walthour tossed in 14 points for the Jackets.
“I’m really pleased with Alex Montgomery,” Joseph added. “I thought for a senior she really stepped up. She was huge on both ends. She’s been our leading rebounder and scorer all year long and she put us on her back today, especially in the first half. Sasha Goodlett stepped up in the second half and really gave us some good minutes in the second half.”
The Jackets fell behind 5-0 in the first minute of the game and Tech’s shots weren’t falling. But the Jacket defense came to play and held the Tar Heels without a field goal from the 15:29 point of the first half to the 12:15 mark and Tech was able to erase UNC’s early advantage.
Montgomery made the plays head coach MaChelle Joseph expects her veteran captain to do and tallied 15 first half points, including three three-pointers, helping Tech carry a 31-30 edge into the halftime break. In the two sides’ first game in Atlanta, North Carolina held a slim 34-33 lead at intermission.
The Tar Heels came out hot to begin the second half and jumped out to a 38-33 lead just three and a half minutes in. The Jackets continued to fight and 9-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to build a 42-40 lead. The Jackets took advantage of UNC miscues and missed shots and were knocking down shots of their own to cap the win.
The Jackets return home for the regular season final on Sunday against the No. 12/14 Miami Hurricanes at 2 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Jackets will be honoring seniors Deja Foster and Alex Montgomery in a pre-game ceremony. Sunday’s game will also be the final women’s basketball game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum as the Jackets will go off campus next year as the AMC is renovated and before it re-opens as McCamish Pavilion in Fall 2012.
Tickets are still available at RamblinWreck.com or by calling 888-Tech-Tix. Children under 12 years old will be admitted for $2. As we attempt to White Out the AMC, anyone wearing white will also be admitted for just $2.
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