Feb. 11, 2007
Atlanta – Georgia Tech (15-10, 6-5) snapped North Carolina State’s five-game win streak with a 69-62 win Sunday in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum where 2,211 fans saw the Jackets shoot 46.5 percent from the field. Sunday’s field goal percentage was Georgia Tech’s best against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent this season.
The Tech offense sputtered in the opening minutes of the game, missing the first four field goal attempts and going without a score until nearly three minutes ticked off the clock. It was a Chioma Nnamaka long-range jumper that put the Jackets on the board.
Though the two teams kept it close in the first half, NC State enjoyed a slight edge until back-to-back Janie Mitchell lay ups sparked a 12-2 Tech run that gave the Jackets a 28-19 lead with 2:17 left in the first half. The Jackets held a 31-24 advantage at the break and led the rest of the game.
Georgia Tech entered the game averaging 40 percent from the field as a team but, found themselves shooting as well as 51 percent early in the second half Sunday and jumping out to a 15-point lead with 13:50 left to play.
NC State (18-8, 7-4), led by six-foot-seven senior Gillian Goring, would not go quietly Sunday and slowly chipped away at Tech’s lead to pull within three points with 4:07 left to play.
The Jackets made all their free throws down the stretch but, it was Jill Ingram’s lone field goal, a high-arching 3-pointer with 1:32 left to play that sealed the win for Tech.
“I’m so proud of our team and how tough they played,” said head coach MaChelle Joseph. “This was their second game in 48 hours and third game in six days and for them to finish as strong as they did says a lot about this team. The way they continue to fight through adversity is impressive to watch. This team will not be denied.”
The Jackets were led by Stephanie Higgs who was 5-for-6 and perfect from three-point land at halftime. Higgs led all scorers with 25 points and was 9-for-12 from the field at game’s end. Sunday’s dazzling display marks the sixth time this season the Lawrenceville, Ga. native has finished with 20 or more points in a game.
Mitchell notched 20 points Sunday and led the team in rebounding for the 11th time with nine boards. The Tech co-captain was 7-for-16 from the field and nailed all six of her free-throw attempts.
Freshman Brigitte Ardossi tied a career-high and led the team with three steals.
The Jackets return to action Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in Coral Gables, Fla. when they take on Miami in the BankUnited Arena. In their last meeting, on Jan. 15, the Jackets defeated the `Canes 52-37 in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
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