Dec. 29, 2002
ATLANTA — The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team will puts its school-record-tying eight-game win streak on the line when it hosts St. John’s in the first round of the Atlanta Marriott NW Holiday Invitational at 1 p.m. on Monday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The match-up between the Yellow Jackets (9-1) and Red Storm (5-4) will be the first in school history.
East Carolina (4-4) and Florida Atlantic (2-7) will square off in the second semifinal at 3 p.m. on Monday, with the two winners meeting in the championship game at 3 p.m. on Tuesday and the losers facing one another in the consolation game at 1 p.m.
The Yellow Jackets are off to the second-best start in program history and have tied the school record for consecutive wins with eight. That streak matches those held by the 1995-96, 1986-87 and 1976-77 teams. The best mark to open a season in school history came during the 1990-91 season, when the Jackets opened the year at 10-1.
Tech’s 65-61 victory over 22nd-ranked Georgia on Friday at Philips Arena was its first ever against the Bulldogs and marked the eighth-straight year that the Jackets have defeated at least one ranked opponent.
Georgia Tech held an opponent to under 40 percent shooting for the ninth time this season against Georgia, keeping its record at a perfect 9-0 in those contests. The Bulldogs were also the Jackets’ ninth opponent to be held under 70 points. The Jackets trailed at the half for the fourth time this year against the Bulldogs, but rallied to win for the third time.
Senior center Sonja Mallory was stellar for the Jackets against UGA, finishing the game with 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
Three Georgia natives were also key players for the Jackets in capturing the school’s first victory against the Bulldogs.
Junior forward Fallon Stokes (Atlanta) led all scorers in the game with 18 points, hitting on seven of 15 attempts from the field and reaching double figures for the ninth time this year.
Junior guard Megan Isom (Decatur) chipped in 10 points against UGA, hitting a trio of three pointers in the contest and upping her team-leading total to 22.
Rookie forward Jessica Williams (Riverdale) had her best outing of the year, netting 10 points in 19 minutes of action.
All Georgia Tech women’s basketball games can be heard locally on 91.1 WREK-FM and around the world on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Live statistics and game notes can also be found at www.ramblinwreck.com.
