Dec. 2, 2001
Greenville, N.C. — The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team got off to a sluggish start and was never able to fully recover as it dropped a 56-47 decision to Southern University in the championship game of the U.S. Cellular Classic in Greenville, N.C. The two-day tournament was held at Minges Coliseum on the campus of East Carolina University.
Neither team was able to get much offensive production in the first half, as they combined for 19 field goals and 47 points in the period. Southern (5-3) held a 15-9 lead at the 6:25 mark of the half, before the Yellow Jackets (4-2) went on a 17-4 run to close out the half. That Tech run was led by senior guard Milli Martinez, who had seven of her 13 points in the game during that span. The Jackets carried a 26-19 advantage into the locker room.
In the second half, Tech built its lead up to as much as eight points at 35-27, but the Jaguars clawed their way back into the contest and eventually took the lead for good in the game with 8:07 remaining. An Angela Bullock lay up to made the score 44-43 in favor of Southern. The Yellow Jackets would close the margin to just two points on a Sonja Mallory lay up that cut the score to 49-47 with 4:37 to play. That basket would be the last that Tech would score in the game, as the Yellow Jackets missed the front end of a pair of one-and-one opportunities, while the Jaguars made 5-of-8 shots from the charity stripe down the stretch to ensure the final margin.
“We weren’t able to execute a number of fundamental things in this game,” said Tech head coach Agnus Berenato. “When you aren’t fundamentally sound, you can’t win ball games. Their coaching staff had a great game plan for us and I give them a lot of credit for that.”
Mallory led the Yellow Jackets were led in the contest, as she finished with 14 points and matched her career high with 15 rebounds. Tech’s only other double-figure scorer in the game was Martinez with 13, as she also had six rebounds in the contest. Junior guard Nina B?rlin recorded her third-straight double-figure assist outing with 11 in the game to go along with a career-high nine rebounds and four points. The trio of Mallory, Martinez and B?rlin were all members of the all-tournament team.
Angela Bullock led the Jaguars as she netted a game-high 19 points and grabbed six boards while recording four steals. Tournament MVP Jacklyn Winfield finished with 14 points and Tammy Bullock was the third Southern player in double figures with her 13 points and eight rebounds.
The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Wednesday, December 5, when they open ACC play against Florida State in a game that will tip off at 7 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
