ATLANTA – Sophomore Alex Stewart recorded her first career triple-double, leading Georgia Tech to a 94-65 win over Charleston Southern tonight at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Stewart, a 5-5 guard from Norcross, Ga., tallied 11 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists in 26 minutes of action off the bench. Stewart’s performance was only the second triple-double in school history, joining former Yellow Jacket standout Kisha Ford’s 33-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist effort on Feb. 13, 1995.
| Alex Stewart |
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Stewart, who also had three steals and shot 5-of-7 from the field. “I had no clue until I just needed one more point. It’s great to be a part of something that doesn’t happen often. We needed a break-out game and I was glad to break out with a triple-double. It’s exciting. I would have taken a win.”
“It’s great because Alex is probably the shortest guard in the ACC, and for her to come down with 10 rebounds is a testament to her hard work,” Georgia Tech head coach Agnus Berenato said. “Alex works hard and consistently every day, and when you do that, good things happen. Alex is a believer in hard work.”
Paced by Stewart and sophomore Sonja Mallory (21 points, career-high 15 rebounds), the Yellow Jackets shot 51 percent from the field and fought off Charleston Southern. The Lady Buccaneers shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and hit 7-of-10 three-point baskets in the first stanza to keep the game close.
But after leading by just five at halftime, Tech stepped up its intensity in the second period. Charleston Southern shot just 30 percent from the field in the second half.
“We played excellent team basketball,” Stewart said. “Everyone was unselfish. We kept up our intensity and actually picked it up in the second half. We have worked hard on team defense in practice. We know we can score. We have to keep other teams from scoring. We have to keep it up.”
Tech received a solid all-around effort, with several players turning in career-best performances. Freshman Fallon Stokes scored a career-high 13 points in her first career start. Junior Ashley Ebert established a season best with seven points.
Sophomore Katie LaRue and freshman Lakeshia Bryant scored 15 points apiece to lead the Lady Buccaneers.
Georgia Tech (11-8) tips off the second half of its ACC slate when it hosts North Carolina on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
