GREENSBORO, NC. — The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets came up victorious in their battle with the Virginia Tech Hokies, winning 72-57 in their first game of the ACC Tournament. The Hokies did everything right to win, but the Yellow Jackets used a massive run in the fourth quarter to win. They are rewarded with a date against the ninth-ranked NC State Wolf Pack in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 7th, at 1:30 PM EST.

Both teams set the tone of the game, with Georgia Tech leading 14-13 after one. The Yellow Jackets were led by Dani Carnegie, who scored five points in the quarter off the bench. She finished with 15 points in the game. Despite the Hokies shooting better in the first quarter, they still found themselves down. Rose Micheaux (Mi-SHOW) led them in scoring in the first period, scoring six of her 19 points. As the game remained close, Virginia Tech’s shooting reigned king in the remainder of the first half.  

Before the final whistle of the first half, the Hokies tied the game, 32-32. Matilda Ekh played a big role in the second quarter, scoring 11 points, including three three-pointers. The Yellow Jackets were even with their opponent in shot-making, however, they were unable to make many outside shots. Georgia Tech only made three three-pointers in 14 attempts, which is a reason why Virginia Tech tied the game. Tonie Morgan led the scoring for the Yellow Jackets in the first half with nine points, to go along with two rebounds and three assists. She went on to finish with 19 points in the win.

Like the previous two tournament games before theirs, both teams were in a tight battle in the first half. Both teams also struggled to get into a rhythm in the third quarter, but Georgia Tech took the lead after the period, 48-43. Morgan led the scoring for the Yellow Jackets, scoring another six points while adding two rebounds and one assist. The Hokies were led by Carys Baker, who scored all seven of her points in the third quarter. While the game remained close through three quarters, Georgia Tech pulled away thanks to an important run in the closing quarter.

In the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter, the Hokies were down 48-52, with the game still very much in hand. However, the Yellow Jackets put the game away thanks to a 17-0 run over the final stretch. Although they shot poorly in the first half, Georgia Tech made 50% of their second-half shots, which played a key role in their win. The Hokies, however, couldn’t make their shots down the stretch, mainly because of the defense they faced. Kara Dunn played a big role in the win for the Yellow Jackets, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds, and one assist. 

As the Yellow Jackets advance in the ACC Tournament, they hope their defense will be able to stop the hottest team in the country when they face the Wolf Pack in their next game.