Jan. 16, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Despite a game-high 15 points from junior forward Fallon Stokes, the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team was unable to mount a second-half comeback and dropped a 74-63 decision to Virginia on the road at University Hall in Charlottesville, Va., on Thursday night. The loss was the fourth straight for the Yellow Jackets.
“I give all the credit to Virginia for playing a great game tonight,” said Tech head coach Agnus Berenato. “They have a few losses, but they have a great team and they showed that tonight. I’m very disappointed with the loss and now we’ll go back to the drawing board tomorrow and get ready for Florida State.”
In the opening half, neither team was able to take a large advantage in the early going, as both struggled from the field. The Yellow Jackets (11-5, 0-4 ACC) took their largest lead of the period at 13-10 with 9:03 remaining on a layup by junior guard Alex Stewart. The Cavaliers (6-9, 1-4 ACC) then knotted things at 13-13 with 7:55 to play on a three by Liz Sahin. Virginia then pulled ahead for a 32-23 advantage at the intermission with a 10-0 run over the final 3:20. Four points from both Brandi Teamer and LaTonya Blue keyed the spurt.
Blue led all scorers in the first half with 11 points for the Cavs, while Tech was led Stokes with seven points.
In the second half, the Yellow Jackets came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, posting a 14-3 run to open the half and take a 37-35 lead with 15:39 to play. Stewart led the charge with nine points. The two teams then remained close for much of the remainder of the half, trading baskets and the lead. Virginia took control of the game late in the second half, with a 17-5 run that was capped by six-straight free throws by Cherrise Graham.
The Jackets’ Fallon Stokes led all scorers in the game with 15 points. She was joined in double figures by Alex Stewart with 14, Megan Isom with 12 and Sonja Mallory with 10.
Virginia was led by Brandi Teamer, who finished the game with 14 points.
Georgia Tech will return to action on January 20, when they travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to face Florida State in a game that will tip off at 4:30 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC’s regional sports network, which includes Fox Sports Net South and the Sunshine Network.
