BIMINI, BAHAMAS — Georgia Tech limited Penn to a 21.4 percent (6-28) shooting efficiency in the second half to pull away with a 69-55 win in the opening game of the Junkanoo Jam Thursday. Three Jackets finished in double-figures led by Elo Edeferioka and Francesca Pan, each with 17 points. Edeferioka finished with a double-double behind a game-high 12 rebounds.
How It Happened
A competitive first half that saw seven tied scores and six lead changes left the Jackets (6-0) in front by one, 36-35, at the halftime break. Two players combined for 23 of the 40 first quarter points as Tech’s Zaire O’Neil led all scorers with 13 points and Penn’s (1-2) Eleah Parker led the Quakers with 10 points. The largest lead of the first half came from the Jackets who grabbed a six-point advantage midway through the second quarter following a Kaylan Pugh jumper at 4:55 that capped a 10-6 Tech run. Tech had two players in double-figure scoring at halftime, O’Neil with 15 points and Pan with 10.
Tech exploded out of halftime and forced Penn to burn two timeouts in the midst of a 10-0 run through the first five minutes of the period as the Jackets grabbed a 46-35 lead. Penn responded closing the quarter with an 11-4 run to setup a 50-46 Tech lead entering the final stanza. The Jackets went on a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter before Penn hit a pair of free throws to snap the streak. The Quakers did not hit a field goal in the final stanza until the 3:16 mark as Tech held Penn to just two field goals in the fourth quarter for the final score.
Tech Tidbits
* Tech grabbed its second victory of the week over an Ivy League member, having defeated Princeton last Sunday before edging the defending Ivy League Champions tonight
* Edeferioka’s 17 points matched her career-high set twice last season
* For the game, the Jackets were held to a 16-for-30 performance at the charity stripe
* Tech won the battle on the glass, 44-35, led by Edeferioka with 12 rebounds
* The Jackets shot 43.9 percent (25-57) from the field
Next Up
The Jackets advance to the Junkanoo Jam championship game against No. 8 Baylor on Saturday. Tip is slated for 2 p.m. Baylor opened the tournament defeating Missouri State, 100-58.
