Dec. 30, 2012
MIAMI – Junior Dawnn Maye’s 24 points led four Georgia Tech players in double digits as the Yellow Jackets (6-5) defeated Quinnipiac (8-2), 74-57, Saturday night in their first game of the FIU Sun & Fun Classic at US Century Bank Arena in Miami, Fla.
Georgia Tech will face FIU in the championship game of the Sun & Fun Classic Sunday night at 6 p.m. ET. Tech is 2-0 all-time against FIU, including a 68-57 win in the 2009 Sun & Fun Classic title game. The Panthers beat Northeastern 66-56 to advance to the title game.
Along with Maye, freshman Aaliyah Whiteside, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Week, tossed in 17 points. Junior Tyaunna Marshall scored 13 points and tied her career-high of 14 rebounds, which she set in Tech’s last game, for her eighth career double-double and third of the season. Sophomore Sydney Wallace scored 11 points, all in the second half, on 4-of-7 shooting.
“That is a really good team we played tonight, they were 8-1 coming in and have beat some good teams,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “We know they are an NCAA Tournament team and knowing this was a must-win game for us. We’ve played some really good teams, but that was a really good basketball team we played. I’m really proud of my kids, the way they showed up. I thought Sydney Wallace was huge off the bench, coming in hitting those threes.
“We had great offensive balance on the perimeter,” Joseph added. “Our post players are doing a great job defensively and rebounding, we just need to get them more involved on the offensive end. Any time you can get three or more players in double figures, that’s a great offensive game.”
The Jackets shot only 37.5 percent for the game, but made 22-of-32 free throw attempts, the most made and most attempted this year. Maye led the free throw charge, making 10 of her 11 attempts from the charity stripe.
After falling behind 3-0 on a Bobcat 3-pointer just 16 seconds in, Tech went on a 20-2 run over the next 11 minutes. Quinnipiac responded with an 18-2 run of its own to cut the Jacket lead to 22-20 on a Brittany McQuain jumper at the 4:47 mark.
A 9-2 Yellow Jacket run late in the first half helped Tech take a 31-27 halftime lead.
Whiteside knocked down two quick 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the second half to extend the Jackets’ lead back to 12 and forced a Quinnipiac timeout. The Tech defense held the Bobcats to only two field goals from the 15:42 mark of the second half to the 8:04 point, turning a 43-36 lead into a 62-41 Jacket edge.
For the game, the Jackets dominated on the glass, out-rebounding QU 54-32, including 23 offensive rebounds which led to a 27-5 advantage in second-chance points. Tech forced 25 Bobcat turnovers and converted them into 29 points on the offensive end.
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–
