ATLANTA (Dec. 4) — Junior Jaime Kruppa scored a team-high 16 points and had 10 rebounds as four Georgia Tech players scored in double figures as the inspired Yellow Jackets topped Clemson, 81-62, in Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald’s Center.
Freshman Nina Brlin scored in double figures for the first time this season, finishing with 14 points and six assists. Senior Danielle Donehew and junior Candice McCallum finished with 11 points each as the Yellow Jackets (4-1 overall, 1-1 ACC) rebounded from a loss earlier in the week to sixth-ranked NC State.
The game was the ACC opener for Clemson (5-2, 0-1 ACC). “I felt that we were really well prepared today and the team executed tremendously to be able to win,” said Tech head coach Agnus Berenato. “We had a lot of different people step up. We wanted to apply a lot of pressure, and I thought the team did that. We gave up a lot of size, but we still outrebounded them, and that was one of our goals.
“I think the team gave a little extra effort for Niesha Butler, and we’re still trying to reach our goal of making the NCAA Tournament.” The game was the first for the Jackets without Butler, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee early in the loss to the Wolfpack on Tuesday.
Utilizing pressure defense for much of the contest, Tech forced Clemson into 19 turnovers, which the Jackets converted into 21 points.
Tech also pulled down 15 more rebounds than the Tigers, outrebounding Clemson 43-28. The Jackets also had 20 offensive rebounds, scoring 11 second-chance points.
Sophomore Milli Martinez, starting in place of Butler, added eight points and had a game- and career-high 11 rebounds. Clemson’s Chrissy Floyd came off the bench to lead all scorers with 19 points. Junior Erin Batth added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers, and sophomore Krystal Scott finished with 12. Tech’s win ended a six-game losing skid to the Tigers. The Jackets next host Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald’s Center.
