Nov. 29, 2002
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team used a pressing defensive attack and 22 points from senior center Sonja Mallory to claim an 85-35 victory over East Tennessee State on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Atlanta Marriott NW Basketball Classic at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Atlanta, Ga. The 35 points allowed by the Jackets in the game was the third-fewest given up by a Tech team in school history.
The Yellow Jackets (3-1) overcame a sluggish start to the game, as Tech took a 6-4 lead into the first media timeout after struggling from the field to open the contest (2-for-9, .222). The Jackets then took control of the game, outscoring the Buccaneers (1-3) by a 17-0 count over the next 7:35. Eight points from Mallory and four more by freshman guard Mallorie Winn keyed the run. Mallory led all scorers in the half with 18 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Fallon Stokes added six points in the period for the Jackets, who took a 42-20 lead into the intermission. In the first half, Tech’s defense was the story, as the Jackets converted 15 Buccaneer turnovers into 32 points.
“Today we came in with a completely different game plan and really wanted to work on our defensive pressure,” said Tech head coach Agnus Berenato. “I think the team did a really good job of adjusting to the plan that we had and it was good to be able to work on some things that we needed to improve on. Everyone worked hard today and it was a good game to try some different things.”
In the second half, the Jackets continued to apply defensive pressure, forcing nine more ETSU turnovers in the first eight minutes after the break and turning those miscues into 13 points. For the game, Tech netted 43 points off of 32 Buccaneer turnovers. The Yellow Jackets put the game out of reach with a 17-2 scoring run to open the second half, getting four points each from Stokes, rookie Kasha Terry and junior Megan Isom.
Tech used all 14 players on its active roster in the contest, with each player logging at least five minutes of playing time. A trio of Yellow Jacket freshmen netted the first points of their collegiate careers in the game, as Megan Harpring, Mallorie Winn and Cheytoria Phillips all scored for Tech. Winn led the group with 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half, while Harpring and Phillips had four points apiece.
“I’m glad that we were able to get everyone in the game for at least five minutes and to get the freshman a good amount of playing time,” said Berenato. “I thought that they all did some good things, Mallorie Winn had a nice game and Cheytoria Phillips and Megan Harpring really played well. I thought Megan gave us some tremendous intensity when she was out there.”
Mallory led all scorers for the Jackets with her 22 points, adding nine rebounds and two blocks in the game. She was joined in double-figure scoring by Stokes, who had points, and seven rebounds, and Winn, who finished with 14 points. Isom led Tech’s defensive effort, finishing with five steals and nine points, along with four assists.
Carla Akers led the way for the Buccaneers, finishing with nine points.
Georgia Tech will face Miami (Ohio) (3-0) in the championship game on Saturday at 3 p.m., while East Tennessee State will face Arkansas State (1-2) in the consolation game at 1 p.m.
