THE FLATS – Behind 37 combined points from Cameron Swartz and Bianca Jackson, Georgia Tech women’s basketball opened its 2022-23 season with a 60-42 victory over Georgia State on Thursday in McCamish Pavilion. Swartz led all scorers with 19 points, while Jackson added 18.
The Yellow Jackets held the Panthers to single digits in the first and second quarters, gaining a 19-point lead at halftime, 30-11. After Tech scored 12 points in the opening frame, freshman Kara Dunn sparked a 10-4 Jackets run to open the second quarter. Capped by a triple from Swartz and a bucket from Jackson, Tech led 22-9 at the 4:09 mark. Tech held Georgia State to one field goal over the final four minutes, accounting for the 30-11 halftime tally. Georgia State was limited to a 17.2 percent (5-29) shooting effort in the first half and Tech led on the boards, 30-18.
Georgia State outscored Tech, 20-14, in the third frame to cut its deficit to 11 points on a three-pointer from Mya Byrd with 1:23 to play. Dunn closed the frame pulling down an offensive board on a fastbreak attempt from Jackson, converting with a layup as Tech led 44-31 entering the final stanza. The Jackets shot 43 percent from the field and went 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the final 10 minutes, while holding Georgia State to a 16.7 percent efficiency to seal its first win of the season. Kayla Blackshear opened the frame with a bucket as the Jackets never relinquished a double-digit lead.
Kayla Blackshear finished with eight rebounds, six points, an assist and a steal in the season-opener. Photo by Danny Karnik.
In addition to her 19 points, Swartz posted six rebounds and three assists. Jackson followed with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Tonie Morgan, while held scoreless, led Tech with eight rebounds, as did Blackshear. The Jackets shot 87.5 percent (21-24) from the charity stripe and 32.7 percent (17-52) from the field. Dominating on the glass, the Jackets won the battle, 50-30.
Georgia Tech returns to the court on Sunday, continuing this season-opening homestand welcoming Kennesaw State. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. on the ACC Network Extra.
Head coach Nell Fortner postgame press conference
Cameron Swartz postgame press conference
Competitive Drive Initiative
In a unified endeavor, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech Foundation, Georgia Tech athletics and the Alexander-Tharpe Fund have come together to accelerate funding for student-athlete scholarships with the launch of the Competitive Drive Initiative. The initiative kicks off with the Accelerate GT Match Program, where any new gift to the A-T Fund’s Athletic Scholarship Fund made through Dec. 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Georgia Tech Foundation, up to $2.5 million. Should Accelerate GT reach its $2.5 million fundraising goal, the matching gift would result in a $5 million impact for Georgia Tech athletics. To learn more and to contribute online, visit atfund.org/accelerate.
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