Nov. 11, 2011
Duluth, Ga. – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (1-0) opened an 11-2 lead by the first media timeout and never looked back as it cruised to a 97-37 win over Alabama State (0-1) in both team’s 2011-12 season openers.
Four Yellow Jackets finished in double figures, led by sophomore Dawnn Maye and freshman Sydney Wallace, who each scored 13 points. Senior Metra Walthour tossed in 11 and junior Jasmine Blain added 10 off the bench. In total, all 13 players played at least 11 minutes and scored four points. Maye’s 13 points and Blain’s 10 were each career-bests.
“We’re glad to get that first game behind us in a new arena and have the opportunity to get a feel for what it’s like out here in Gwinnett,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “For the most part, we had the opportunity to play a lot of people, get a lot of people quality minutes and get a feel for where we are at this point in the season. I was impressed with our ability to score. We missed several free throws, I don’t know if that has something to do with us adjusting to this court or just us missing free throws. I wasn’t very pleased with our rebounding. Those are a couple things we’ll have to address before Sunday. Overall, it was a great defensive effort and obviously our offense came from our defense.”
Walthour, Tech’s 5-6 point guard, scored the Yellow Jackets first five points, and then blocked her 10th career shot which led to a Sasha Goodlett layup to put Georgia Tech up 7-2 barely two minutes into the contest. Maye, making her first career start added four quick points and the rout was on.
The Yellow Jacket defense held the Hornets without a field goal for nearly seven minutes midway through the first half, turning a 12-4 lead into a 27-7 advantage.
At the half, Tech had built a 46-16 lead. Wallace, from nearby Johns Creek, Ga., tallied eight points in eight first half minutes to lead the Jackets. Walthour added seven and Maye six in the opening 20 minutes.
The Tech defense began the final frame with the same stout defense it showed through the first half, holding the Hornets to only four points in the first 5:20 of the second period.
Tech extended its lead with a 15-3 run early in the second half, making the score 64-23 with 13:18 left in the game, before finishing off the 60 point win.
The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Sunday, Nov. 13, when they try to avenge last year’s loss to the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs (0-1). Last season, ODU defeated GT 65-63 on Nov. 14 in Norfolk. The Jackets and Lady Monarchs will tip-off at 2 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett. Fans can listen live on WREK 91.1 FM or through RamblinWreck.com. A new addition to this year’s coverage, fans can watch live streaming games through RamblinWreck.com.
Fans are encouraged to follow us on Twitter, @GTWBB, for instant updates and like us on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for a view inside the program.
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