THE FLATS— The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team defeated Purdue Thursday night in McCamish Pavilion, 68-55, in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. With the win, the Jackets move to 7-1 on the season.
“This was a really important game for us, winning the Big Ten/ACC Challenge,” noted head coach MaChelle Joseph, who faced her alma mater tonight. “I thought we had a really good first half. We had a slow start to the third quarter like we did against Baylor. Again, our free throw shooting, we’ve got to make free throws.”
How It Happened
Hitting just her second career three-pointer, Elo Edeferioka gave the Jackets a one point lead, 12-11, at the end of the first quarter, but Tech outscored Purdue 21-9 in the second frame to grab a double-digit lead at halftime. Tech opened the second quarter with a 5-0 spurt, forcing Purdue to burn its first timeout less than three minutes into the period. Over the next five minutes, the Jackets would go on a 12-4 run to gain a 29-15 lead with 2:19 left in the half and the Boilermakers called another timeout. Tech would lead 33-20 at halftime.
Purdue made it a four-point ballgame, 36-32, using a 12-3 run out of the halftime break before Zaire O’Neil snapped the run with a layup at 4:18. Purdue came within three points, but Imani Tilford and Francesca Pan combined for five unanswered to put the Jackets back in front by eight, 43-35. Tech would continue to push and extend their lead, regaining a double-digit lead off a layup from Tilford to open the final quarter. O’Neil would setup a 58-44 score with a field goal at the 5:04 mark and Tech would take a 14-point lead twice before Purdue cut the score to single digits for the final time at 1:37 at the free throw line. The Jackets closed out the game going 4-for-6 at the charity stripe for the final 68-55 score.
Tech Tidbits
* The win marked the first against Purdue in program history as the Boilermakers came into the contest tonight leading the series, 2-0.
* With the win in the Challenge, the Jackets are now 7-4 overall and 5-1 at home in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
* Three Jackets scored in double-figures led by Pan with 15 points. O’Neil added 12 points and Pugh finished with 11 points.
* Tech narrowly won the battle on the glass, 35-32, paced by Tilford with seven rebounds. Tilford finished the game with seven points, seven boards and six assists.
* The Jackets were 14-of-25 at the charity stripe, while Purdue was 11-of-21. Pugh led Tech at the free throw line, going 7-for-8.
* For the game, Tech shot 42.1 percent (24-57) from the field. Purdue shot 40.4 percent (21-52).
* Purdue was led in scoring by Andreona Keys with 20 points.
Next Up
Tech hosts MTSU in a Sunday matinee on Dec. 3. The Jackets and Blue Raiders tip at 1 p.m. in McCamish Pavilion.
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