In Greensboro, North Carolina, the ninth-seeded Georgia Tech team claimed a strong victory over the eighth-seeded Virginia Tech, finishing with a score of 72-57 in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Thursday. Tonie Morgan remarkably contributed 19 points, while Kara Dunn added 16, enabling Georgia Tech to reach another level of tournament play.
This win allowed the Yellow Jackets to avenge their earlier 105-94 double-overtime defeat by the Hokies. Now, they are set to challenge top-seeded and seventh-ranked N.C. State in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Georgia Tech held a slim two-point advantage when Morgan nailed a jumper eight minutes before the final whistle, sparking an unstoppable 17-0 rally. Within this powerful surge, Dunn’s contribution of two significant 3-pointers and a layup stretched the score to 67-48 with only 2:47 remaining. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech struggled during this pivotal moment, missing seven of their attempts while grappling with two turnovers.
Standout freshman Dani Carnegie played a significant role for the Yellow Jackets, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds. The team (22-9) had an assertive start to the season, boasting a 15-0 record before their eventual setback against the Hokies.
Virginia Tech saw Rose Micheaux make a commendable contribution, scoring 19 points and surpassing the 1,000 career-point milestone. Matilda Ekh who tallied up 17 points also made notable impacts. In an evenly matched first-half showdown, Ekh scored 14 points, contributing to a period marked by seven fouls and seven turnovers in total.
Georgia Tech led 14-13 after the initial quarter, pulling ahead with a stretch of seven points in the second. However, consecutive 3-pointers from Ekh allowed Virginia Tech to pull level at 32-32 by halftime.
Virginia Tech briefly edged forward at 37-36 after a 3-pointer from Carys Baker and a layup by Micheaux, only for the Yellow Jackets to respond and finish the third quarter leading 48-43 as they advanced into the fourth.
