Feb. 23, 2003
Senior center Sonja Mallory recorded game highs of 18 points and 10 boards against the Tigers.
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CLEMSON, S.C. – Led by five players in double-figure scoring, including a game-high 18 points from senior center Sonja Mallory, the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team pulled away for a 78-63 win over Clemson on Sunday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C.
“Our team came in to today’s game really focused and this is such a big win for us,” said Tech head coach Agnus Berenato. “I felt like rebounding was a real key for us and we stressed it coming into the game and our team did a great job of getting to the boards. Everyone stepped up today, especially Fallon Stokes who was struggling early on in the game. We talked to her at halftime and she came out very focused in the second half.”
The Yellow Jackets (17-9, 6-8 ACC) looked to take early control of the game with the Tigers (13-12, 5-9 ACC) as they used a late run to take a 34-28 lead into the intermission. The two teams started slowly, as Clemson claimed an 8-6 advantage 17:24 to play on the strength of a pair of threes by Julie Aderhold. Tech then began its run into the lead sprinting to a 30-17 advantage with 3:49 remaining via a 22-9 run midway through the half. That spurt was keyed by six points apiece from senior center Sonja Mallory rookie guard Megan Harpring. The Tigers closed to within four as Chrissy Floyd netted four points down the stretch.
Tech scored 10 of its points at the free throw line, finishing the half a solid 10-for-12 at the charity stripe. The Jackets were led in the period by eight points from both Mallory and junior forward Fallon Stokes. Georgia Tech’s defense limited Clemson to just 31 percent shooting in the opening stanza and the Jackets dominated on the boards, claiming a 27-17 advantage on the glass.
In the second half, the Tigers attempted to mount a rally, getting six-straight points from Floyd and a layup by Lakeia Stokes to cap 12-6 run that gave Clemson a 42-40 lead with 14:23 remaining. The Jackets immediately answered with a 15-0 run of their own to put the game out of reach. Harpring started the spurt with a three and freshman guard Mallorie Winn capped it with a three of her own to give Tech a 55-42 advantage with 10:46 remaining. The Tigers would get no closer than within 10 points the rest of the way, as junior guard Alex Stewart netted seven of her 15 points in the contest in the final seven minutes to give the Jackets their first win at Clemson since the 1996 season.
“Megan Harpring did a great job for us both offensively and defensively,” said Berenato. “Our goal was to limit Floyd to between 18 and 20 points and we were able to do that, which was huge.”
Mallory led all scorers in the game with her 18 points, as she recorded her 10th double-double of the season with a game-high 10 rebounds and led a dominant Yellow Jacket rebounding effort that claimed a 47-28 lead on the boards. Fallon Stokes recorded her second-straight double-digit scoring night, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds. Stewart and Harpring added 15 points apiece, with Stewart chipping in eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Harpring pulling down a career-high six rebounds. Winn was the fifth Tech player in double figures, finishing with 11 points and three assists.
Floyd and Stokes, who finished with 20 and 18 points respectively, with Floyd grabbing six rebounds and dishing out five assists, led the Tigers in the game.
Georgia Tech will have a few days off before returning to action on Feb. 27, when it travels to Raleigh, N.C., to face NC State in a game that will tip off at 7 p.m.
-GT-
