THE FLATS – Behind two standout performances on the court including 33 points in a win over No. 18 Notre Dame, Talayah Walker was named ACC Player of the Week Monday.
The Odenton, Md. native shot 63.3% from the floor averaging 31.5 points per game and becoming the first Yellow Jacket to have 30 in back-to-back games since Carla Munnion in 1995. This is just the second time in program history a Jacket has had back-to-back 30-point games in ACC play and first since 1993 (Joyce Pierce).
Those two outings gave her the conference lead in 30-point games in ACC action (2) and her 33 against Notre Dame remains the most by a player in conference games this season. Her two double-doubles are tied for the most in ACC play this season, while her three games of 20 points or more are also tied for the ACC lead among league games.
Against the Fighting Irish Thursday, she tallied 10 makes and 10 rebounds, including 12-for-14 from the free throw line. In the fourth quarter and overtime, she proved clutch with 18 points on 5-for-9 shooting with seven made free throws. The outing helped Tech to its second win over Notre Dame in program history, 95-90.
Sunday in Tech’s 67-59 win against SMU, she shined again with 30 points and 11 rebounds on top of a career-high seven steals. She was 11-for-12 from the free throw line and 9-for-13 from the floor, securing the Jackets’ three-game win streak and back-to-back victories in ACC action.
She played 68 minutes of action between the two games, adding eight assists, eight steals and three blocks. The sophomore guard was also efficient from the free throw line on a 23-for-26 clip.
Walker is the first Yellow Jacket to win ACC Player of the Week since Kara Dunn on Dec. 11, 2023. She is the first to win the honor in January since Sonja Mallory on Jan. 21, 2002. This award marks the 35th ACC Player of the Week honor in program history and first of the Karen Blair era.
Tech is back home Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. against Virginia on ACC Network Extra. Fans can purchase tickets here.
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
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