Jan. 21, 2002
ATLANTA — Georgia Tech junior center Sonja Mallory has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball player of the week after helping lead the Yellow Jackets to three conference wins during the past week, including an upset win over 17th-ranked North Carolina on the road. Mallory is the second Yellow Jacket player to garner ACC honors this season, joining senior Regina Tate, who was named ACC player of the week on December 3.
Mallory was a force in the paint both on the offensive and defensive end of the court for Georgia Tech last week. The Bronx, N.Y., native had her best outing of the week against the Tar Heels, netting 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds for her team-leading fourth double-double of the year. Mallory contributed to a Tech rebounding effort that claimed a 60-35 edge in rebounds over UNC.
Against Florida State, she stepped up again, scoring 18 points and pulling down nine rebounds, while also recording a game- and week-high four blocks in the contest to help the Jackets on the defensive end against the Seminoles. To open the week against Maryland, the Bronx, N.Y., product had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds to go along with three blocks.
For the week, Mallory averaged a double-double of 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and three blocked shots, while also recording a steal in each game. The Jackets have won four consecutive ACC games for the first time in school history, thanks in large part to the play of Mallory in the post.
Mallory and the rest of the Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday, January 26, when they host the Clemson Tigers in a game that will tip off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on Fox Sports Net South.
