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 Keith Winnick |
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| Forward Carla Munnion drives on North Carolina's Chanel Wright. Munnion later reinjured her right ankle. |
The Lady Yellow Jackets played a tough game against the North Carolina Tar Heels last Thursday at the ThrillerDome but could not hold on as Carolina made a big defensive stand in winning the game 69-48.
The end of the first half saw the Tech women up 29-25 with momentum going into the second half. The Jackets were led by Kenya Williams and Joannah Kauffman along with excellent guard play. Williams and Kauffman were a major presence on the boards, cleaning up missed outside jumpers with putbacks and boxing out strong on the defensive boards.
Williams almost had a double-double in the first half alone, finishing with eleven points and nine boards at halftime. However, the hard work on the boards may have fatigued her as she was one of several team members who missed short layups, turnaround jumpers in the paint, and tip-ins which may have put the knockout punch to the Tar Heels.
As it stood, Tech led by four at intermission. Tech looked to post their second major upset of the year, the first coming at home against the then 10th-ranked Virginia. Freshman Regina Tate provided a major spark off the bench fighting for boards, penetrating the zone, and dishing to wide open teammates several times.
Unfortunately, Tech continued missing the short shots keeping Carolina in the game. The seventh-ranked Tar Heels were bound to get hot and they were blazing at the twelve minute mark while Tech went ice cold from the field.
Carolina went on a 24-1 run in the next 11 minutes the one point coming from a Williams free throw. The main force for the Heels was All-America Tracy Reid who had 14 in the second half, 18 for the game. She also was fierce on the boards tapping the glass for twelve overall. Tech was also hurt by the loss of their main scoring threat and sharpshooter Carla Munnion, who had hurt her ankle the day before in practice and reinjured her ankle around the 11-minute mark.
Munnion didn't return until three minutes left in the game providing Tech's only other field goal, a three pointer in the last minute of the game.
Standouts on Tech's side were Williams who finished with 16 points and a monstrous 17 boards, while Kauffman chipped in with 13 points and 11 boards. The duo combined for 28 rebounds helping to give Tech a 59-49 advantage on the glass which Coach Agnus Berenato "was very proud of."
Guard Shea Matlock did a nice job of running the point position. The loss dropped Tech to 7-7 overall, 1-4 in the ACC, but the Yellow Jackets held their heads high and went into Wake Forest hoping to improve their ACC position.
The duo of Williams and Kauffman dominated the paint Williams finished with a double-double (21 points, 10 boards, 8-11 from the field) and Kauffman with a near double-double (16 points, 8 boards, and four blocks).
Guard Danielle Donnehew dropped six three-point bombs on the Lady Demon Deacons, finishing with 19 points as Wake Forest didn't know where to guard Tech with the outside and inside game on fire.
It was not a total domination as Tech only led by six at the half, 36-30. But the Jackets went on a 17-4 run at the eleven minute mark, breaking the backs of the Deacons and sending the game to its final score of 80-60. The win improved the Jackets to 8-8 overall and 2-4 in the ACC. The Lady Yellow Jackets look to get another win at home against Florida State when they play on January 18 at 12:30 p.m.
.JPG) Carrie Chin |
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| Senior point guard Shelli Novotny is averaging 6.5 points and four assists per game for the Lady Jackets. |