Atlanta (Nov. 26) ? Georgia Tech posted a 74-56 non-conference decision over cross-town rival Georgia State Wednesday evening in Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Georgia State (1-1) got 19 points from junior forward Danyiell McKeller and 10 points from senior guard Brittany Hollins. The Panthers posted 12 steals with their pressure defense with eight players having at least one steal.
Georgia Tech (No. 33, AP, 4-1 and now 4-0 at home) was led by Iasia Hemingway's 21 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Jacqua Williams netted 15 points and added four steals, while Brigitte Ardossi scored 10 more points.
“First of all, we played a very good team on its home court tonight and they make it difficult for you with their pressure defense,” said head coach Lea Henry. “They're obviously bigger, quicker and more athletic, but we never quit and outscored them in the second half.”
“But, our two freshmen guards will have to learn from this type of game and grow,” Henry continued. “We fought hard and we have to learn to control our poise in a game like this. I'm not happy to lose, but if we look for positives and move on to the next game, we should be fine.”
Henry pointed out that State did force 25 Tech turnovers with its pressure defense, too. But, the Panthers committed 22 turnovers of their own.
The visiting Panthers led 4-2 in the first two minutes before Tech's 9-0 run got them the lead. State battled back and trailed 17-14 at the 10:00 mark and 19-16 at the nine-minute mark when the bigger Yellow Jackets scored five lay-ups on another 10-2 run to open a 31-18 margin.
In the second half, State hung around and was trailing just 51-41 with 9:26 left after a basket by Dana Olsen and 59-47 with seven minutes left. But, Tech closed out the win with more free throws and lay-ups to claim the 74-56 win. State held a 32-31 second-half scoring advantage.
Both Panther starting freshman guards who scored in double figures at Clemson, Crystal Johnson and Jylisa Williams, each fouled out of today's game with just six points combined.
Georgia State takes a day off for Thanksgiving and leaves for Charleston, S.C. on Friday for a Saturday afternoon game against the College of Charleston (3-1) of the Southern Conference.
Notebook: Tech now leads the series, 21-11....The hustling Panthers had 18 steals in the season-opening win at Clemson and had 12 more tonight to give the team 30 in the first two games...McKeller followed her 24-point opener with 19 points to keep her season average at 21.5...Hollins produced her 59th career double-figure scoring game...Brittany Graham made her only three-point attempt tonight to make her six-of-seven outside the arc for the season.
