THE FLATS — Five Yellow Jackets scored in double-figures as the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team picked up its eighth straight victory at home over Wake Forest on Sunday, 79-67. A balanced effort on both ends of the floor led Tech to its second ACC win of the season, improving to 13-7 overall and 2-5 in league play.
“We played three great quarters and the third quarter again was a factor for us, but we have to figure out how to put four great quarters together,” commented head coach MaChelle Joseph. “It felt really good to be able to fight back and see our players make plays when Wake Forest made a run. We got huge contributions out of our seniors — Zaire O’Neil and Antonia Peresson. I thought they did a great job. I thought we saw a lot of different people step up.”
How It Happened
A 29-2 Georgia Tech run spanning the first and second quarters pushed the Jackets out to a 20-point lead, 29-9, over the Demon Deacons with 8:03 to play in the half. Antonia Peresson capped the run with her fourth three-pointer of the afternoon before Wake Forest closed the stanza with a 19-11 edge, cutting the score to 40-28 at halftime. Zaire O’Neil posted eight points in the second frame as two Jackets were in double-figures at intermission led by Peresson with 12 points.
Wake Forest got off to a strong start in the third quarter, shooting 50.0 percent (4-8) from the field to Tech’s 20.0 percent (1-5) to cut the score to 45-38 at the third media break. The Demon Deacons cut their deficit to five points on a field goal from Elisa Penna before O’Neil scored the next four points to return a 49-40 lead to the Jackets. Ivana Raca hit a triple to end the frame and set the score at 49-43 entering the fourth quarter.
A combined 54 points were scored in the fourth quarter between the teams. Tech shot 46.2 percent (6-13) in the final frame and was 17-for-22 from the charity stripe. Over the final minute of play, Tech was 8-for-12 from the free throw line and out-rebounded WFU 6-1. Wake Forest cut it to eight points on a three-pointer from Penna with 23 seconds to play, but the Jackets held the Demon Deacons scoreless the remainder of the game for a 79-67 victory.
Tech Tidbits
* Peresson tied her season-high of four three-pointers and finished with 12 points
* O’Neil led the Jackets offensively with 18 points and posted a strong stat line behind seven rebounds, five assists and two steals
* Francesca Pan posted 13 points followed by Kierra Fletcher and Elo Edeferioka each with 11 points
* Tech was 23-for-33 from the free throw line paced by Fletcher’s 9-of-10 effort
* The Jackets won the rebounding battle, 39-30, led by O’Neil and Edeferioka each with seven
* The bench was a prominent force, posting 40 points
Next Up
The Jackets are back in action on Thursday, visiting Virginia Tech for a 7 p.m. tilt on ACC Network Extra in Blacksburg.
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