Dec. 30, 2013
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (10-3) used a strong second half to defeat Hampton (10-4), 89-70, and win the Georgia Tech Holiday Tournament.
Senior Tyaunna Marshall led the Yellow Jacket’s scoring effort, recording 22 points against the Pirates. Marshall also dished out four assists and recorded three steals on her way to being named the MVP of the tournament. The senior was also named the MVP of the LIU Turkey Classic earlier this season. Marshall averaged 19 points and eight rebounds over the past two days.
Both Kaela Davis and Sydney Wallace were named to the Georgia Tech Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team. Davis scored 19 points against the Pirates and recorded three steals. In the win against Alabama State, the freshman led the Yellow Jackets with 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Wallace scored 11 points against Hampton and recorded 10 against Alabama State.
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Not only did Marshall’s 22 points lead the Jackets, but they moved the Upper Marlboro, Md. native into third place on the Jackets’ all-time scoring list with 1,726 career points. Marshall is now just 230 points from breaking Kisha Ford’s all-time record of 1,955 points.
With the win against the Hornets, Tech finished the non-conference season with a 10-3 record and went 7-0 at home. Georgia Tech averaged 92 points per game during home nonconference games this season.
The first half was close between the two non-conference opponents, as the two teams headed into the locker room at halftime tied 36-36. Following the 15 minute break, the Jackets came alive in the second half, outscoring Hampton, 53-34, on their way to their second-straight victory.
The Yellow Jackets began to pull away at the 11:44 minute mark thanks to an 8-0 that lasted 1:31 and put them ahead by eight, 60-52. Davis contributed four points during the run and assisted on Katarina Vuckovic’s fast break layup at 10:02.
Vuckovic would then join forces with Aaliyah Whiteside to put together a 13-0 run. Whiteside would score eight points during the run while Vuckovic contributed five to put Tech 16 points ahead of the Pirates, 73-56, with 6:51 on the clock.
Whiteside scored 13 points overall against the Pirates and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
The Jackets would maintain their lead for the remainder of the game and they took their largest lead of the contest, 21 points, with 1:04 remaining after Marshall hit a jump shot to put Tech up, 89-68.
From the start of the game, the Jackets had to battle back from being down to Hampton. The Pirates jumped to an early 10-4 lead but Marshall and Wallace led the Jackets to tie it, 14-14. Marshall and Wallace combined to score the Jackets’ first 11 points of the game, with Marshall scoring seven of the 11.
Back-to-back layups from Nariah Taylor pulled the jackets within two of the Pirates 20-18 lead at 9:32.
Hampton made five three pointers in the first 11 minutes of the game on its way to a 25-20 lead.
A Tech scoring surge at the end of the half would tie up the game, 36-36. The Jackets utilized a 7-0 run to tie it up the game that began after Marshall hustled for a steal at midcourt. She then found Whiteside who made her layup while being fouled. Whiteside sank the foul shot to complete the 3-point play and the game was tied at 34-34.
Hampton’s Kenia Cole would hit two free throws on court to give the Pirates a 36-34 lead. Whiteside would tie it up again, hitting both shots of her one-and-one, tying up the game heading into halftime, 36-36.
Davis would give the Jackets its first lead of the game 20 seconds into the second half, after sinking two free throws to make it 38-36 in favor of Tech.
Davis would break a tie again, this time at 43-43, scoring two-straight baskets to put Tech ahead, 47-43 with 11:43 left. The Jackets began their game-changing run shortly thereafter.
Hampton was led by Malia Tate-Defreitas who scored 27 points against the Jackets. Alyssa Bennett had a double-double for the Pirates, recording 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Yellow Jackets open up conference play on January 5 at 2 p.m. when they host Duke at McCamish Pavilion.
For an inside look at the program, follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter, @GTWBB, Instagram, GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball.
Georgia Tech Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team
Quentori Alford (Alabama State)
Malia Tate-Defreitas (Hampton)
Kenia Cole (Hampton)
Kaela Davis (Georgia Tech)
Sydney Wallace (Georgia Tech)
MVP: Tyaunna Marshall
–RamblinWreck.com–
