Nov. 10, 2013
THE FLATS –The rv/rv Georgia Tech women’s basketball (2-0) team rolled to its second-straight victory, defeating the Western Carolina Catamounts (0-2), 87-47, at McCamish Pavilion this afternoon.
The Yellow Jackets set a new school record this afternoon, making 13 3-point baskets. Prior to today’s game, the Jackets’ school record was 12 3-point baskets made, which was against Mercer exactly 7 years ago, on Nov. 10, 2006. Overall the Jackets shot 13-of-24 (54.3%) from behind the arc against the Catamounts.
“I’m really pleased with the way we are playing and the balance we have,” Joseph said. “This is the most threes we have made in a game. I think the thing that has impressed me the most in these first two games is the assists and the way they are sharing the basketball.”
The Jackets used their accuracy behind the 3-point line and a tough defense to record its second win of the season. This is the sixth time that the Jackets have begun the season at 2-0 under head coach MaChelle Joseph.
“I think these two games have really helped us,” Joseph said. “We are in a much better situation going into playing Tennessee this year than we were a year ago. Obviously with more experience, but having a couple of games where we got to look at different combinations. We got to see a couple different people play at different times. It’s been very beneficial, especially for our younger players.”
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For her second consecutive game, freshman guard Kaela Davis recorded a double-double, scoring a team-high 20 points and grabbing 10 boards. It was also Davis’ second-straight game with 20 points for the freshman led the Yellow Jackets in Friday’s win against Coppin State, with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
This was the first time a Tech player has had a double-double in consecutive games since senior Tyaunna Marshall accomplished the feat against NC State on Jan. 27, 2013 (16 pts., 11 rebs.) and Wake Forest on Jan. 31, 2013 (28 pts., 17 reb.).
Sophomore Roddreka Rogers also had a double-double against Western Carolina, leading the team in rebounding with 11 grabs and scoring 10 points. It was Rogers’s first double-double of the season and the second of her career.
Two other Yellow Jackets also scored in double figures. Junior Sydney Wallace tallied 16 points while shooting 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Sophomore Aaliyah Whiteside recorded her second-straight double figure scoring game, notching 13 points against the Catamounts.
Senior Dawnn Maye led the team with six steals, while recording four assists and two points. Tech held a 52-26 advantage in rebounds and forced 17 Catamount turnovers that they turned into 22 points.
It was clear from the start of the contest that Tech’s 3-pointers were going to be the name of the game. The Jackets opened up the nonconference game sinking three-straight 3-pointers to take a 9-8 lead against the Catamounts.
With the game tied at 11-11, the Jackets offense came alive utilizing a 14-3 run to jump to a 25-13 lead with 8:17 left in the first half. During the run, Davis scored six-straight points, completing a 3-point play and making a 3-pointer.
Two consecutive 3-point baskets by Wallace and Davis helped extend the Jackets’ lead to 37-21 with just 2:25 remaining.
Tech headed into halftime with a 43-29 advantage.
During the second half, the Catamounts never pulled within 16 points of the Jackets’ lead, due mostly to Tech’s second half 61.5 shooting percentage.
The Jackets came out of the locker room hot, outscoring the Catamounts, 20-2. Davis continued to work toward her second 20 point scoring game, scoring five points in the opening two minutes of the second half.
A 22-0 Tech run extended the Jackets’ lead to 43 points at 74-31 and included eight of Whiteside’s 13 total points. A solid Jacket defense held the Catamounts scoreless for 9:42.
With 8:38 remaining in the contest, Rogers put back a rebound off of a missed 3-pointer by Whiteside to give the Jackets their largest lead of the afternoon of 43 points.
The Jackets continued to dominate both offensively and defensively in the second half, outscoring the Catamounts, 44-18 in the second frame. The Tech defense held Western Carolina to just a 19.4 shooting percentage in the second 20 minutes of play and a 28.8 shooting percentage for the entire game.
Western Carolina was led in scoring by Lindsay Simpson, who totaled 19 points. Erika Joseph, Shauna Terry and Hana Haden grabbed a team-high four rebounds apiece.
The Jackets hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to #4/4 Tennessee on Sunday, Nov. 17th at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports South.
For an inside look at the program, follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter, @GTWBB, Instagram, GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball.
–RamblinWreck.com–
