Feb. 3, 2013
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. – Junior Tyaunna Marshall and sophomore Sydney Wallace sparked Georgia Tech’s 65-62 comeback win at Virginia Sunday afternoon.
Marshall recorded her third straight double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Wallace tossed in 22 points on the strength of six 3-pointers. The six 3-pointers move Wallace within one of 10th on the Georgia Tech career top 10 list.
It was the first win for Georgia Tech (10-12, 3-8 ACC) at Virginia’s (14-7, 6-4 ACC) John Paul Jones Arena.
“After Wake Forest, I really felt like we figured out how to win,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “We’ve had such a tough schedule. I said all year long we’d be playing our best basketball in February. We’ve had two key wins in the last two games. To beat a team as good as Virginia on the road is huge for this team and this program. There is no doubt we’ve faced our adversity. The way Ty Marshall has stepped up into the leadership role and becoming the go-to player has been important. She never quit on any playing and I can say that for our entire team. We’re starting to figure out what it is to play Georgia Tech basketball. It was just a tremendous team win today.”
The Cavaliers started the contest hot while the Jackets were getting good looks but not getting shots to fall. Virginia began the game on a 15-2 run to the second media timeout of the day. The Cavaliers shot 45.5 percent over the first eight minutes while Tech was just 1-of-8.
The Tech defense limited the `Hoos to just two field goals in the final eight minutes as the Jackets cut the Cavalier lead to 29-22 at the half.
The Jackets began the second half just as hot as they finished the first, posting a 6-2 run in the first two minutes of the half and forcing a Virginia timeout. The Cavaliers extended their lead back to double digits, taking a 48-36 lead with 12:37 to play.
Tech responded with a 12-3 run over the next two-and-a-half minutes to pull within 49-48. After two Virginia free throws, Wallace knocked down a three to force the first tie of the day, 51-51, with 8:32 to play.
Danielle Hamilton-Carter knocked the ball away from the Cavaliers and Marshall raced to a fastbreak layup. Another Wallace 3-pointer gave the Jackets their largest lead of the day, five, 56-51, with 6:04 left. Virginia’s Telia McCall, who finished with 28 points to lead UVA, got a layup with 3:56 left and that would be the last UVA field goal of the day as the rest of the `Hoos points would come from the free throw line.
Wallace made a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left to tie the game at 61. Virginia’s Simone Egwu hit one of two free throws to put UVA up 62-61with 32 seconds left. Marshall got a steal and layup to put Tech up 63-62 with 15.3 to play. After missing the free throw, Tech forced Virginia’s China Crosby to step on the end line and Wallace hit two free throws for the final margin.
Georgia Tech dominated the boards, winning the battle of the glass 44-34. Twenty-two of Tech’s rebounds came on the offensive end and led to 20 second-chance points.
“We’ve always said we built this program on defense and rebounding,” Joseph said. “To come on the road and hold Virginia to 62 points and out-rebound them by 10, I really feel like the core values of our team are back in place and that’s valuing defense and rebounding and not trying to out-score people.”
Georgia Tech returns to Atlanta for a pair of games next weekend. The Yellow Jackets will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies at 8:30 p.m. Friday night at McCamish Pavilion in the only meeting between the two Techs this year. Georgia Tech will have a short turnaround before hosting North Carolina at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on Play4Kay day in Atlanta. Friday’s game against Virginia Tech will be broadcast on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks while Sunday’s game against UNC will air on ESPNU.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter, @GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for an inside look at the program.
–RamblinWreck.com–
