Georgia Tech Takes First of Back-to-Back Meetings at the Gulf Coast Showcase

ESTERO, Fla. – In the first of two meetings in eight days between the two squads, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets escaped the Belmont University women's basketball team 58-52 Sunday afternoon on the final day of the 2022 Gulf Coast Showcase in the Sunshine State. The Bruins (2-5) held a five-point lead with three minutes to go but Georgia Tech (5-2) closed the game on a 13-2 run to earn the non-conference neutral-site win at Hertz Arena.

The third game for both teams in Estero, Florida, over Thanksgiving weekend was a physical, defensive affair that saw 34 fouls, seven lead changes and a trio of ties. Both Belmont and the Yellow Jackets led for 18-and-a-half minutes of the contest with each going on lengthy scoring runs in the second half.
 
The Bruins overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and took a five-point lead late in the third quarter. Sparked by a 7-0 start and a season-high 22 points from junior forward Madison Bartley, Belmont looked poised for its first victory over Georgia Tech.

Bartley scored the Bruins' first seven points of the game as her three-pointer put Belmont up 7-0 a little over three minutes in. Belmont held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the first four minutes of action, but Georgia Tech ended the opening quarter on an 11-3 run. Freshman guard Kate Hollifield drilled her second triple of the season before the end of the quarter, keeping the Bruins within a point at 11-10.

A pair of Bartley layups early in the second quarter put Belmont in front 12-11 and 14-13, before the Yellow Jackets outscored the Bruins 16-3 over the final seven-and-a-half minutes of the half.

Outscored 18-7 in the second quarter, Belmont was limited to only three made field goals as Georgia Tech led 29-17 at the break. The Bruins held the Yellow Jackets to 28.9 percent (11-of-38) shooting in the first half, but Georgia Tech owned a 28-17 advantage on the glass and got 13 points off nine Belmont turnovers.

The Bruins shot 31.8 percent (7-of-22) in the opening 20 minutes and went 2-for-13 (15.4 percent) from long range.

Junior guard Destinee Wells got the scoring started in the second half with her lone three of the afternoon but a jumper by the Yellow Jackets' Tonie Morgan made it a 10-point game at 33-23 with just under seven minutes to go in the third quarter. From there, Belmont scored 15 consecutive points ignited by a layup from graduate guard Sydni Harvey. Offensive rebounds by sophomore forward Tessa Miller and junior guard Tuti Jones led to another Bartley layup that knotted the score at 33. Wells put the Bruins up 35-33 with two minutes to go in the third and Bartley knocked down her second three-pointer to give Belmont a 38-33 lead.

The Bruins led 39-36 heading into the final quarter of play after outscoring Georgia Tech 22-7 in the third quarter. Limiting the Yellow Jackets to 3-of-12 shooting in the quarter, Belmont shot 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from the floor and connected on three of its eight three-point attempts (37.5 percent).

A Miller layup and free throws by sophomore guard Kilyn McGuff put the Bruins up 43-38 early in the fourth quarter. However, Georgia Tech's Cameron Swartz nailed a three and the Yellow Jackets got foul shots from Jackson Bianca to even the score at 43 with seven minutes left.

Belmont would make only two field goals the rest of the way as Bartley's third and final three gave the Bruins a 46-43 lead. Harvey drained a wing trey in transition with just over four minutes remaining, making it a four-point contest at 49-45. Miller made the second of two free throws with 3:05 left to give Belmont a 50-45 lead but it was all Georgia Tech in the final three minutes.

The Yellow Jackets' Jackson hit a three-pointer following an offensive board to get Georgia Tech within one at 50-49 with just under two minutes to go. Nine-straight Yellow Jacket free throws from Jackson, Swartz and Kayla Blackshear in the last 90 seconds gave Georgia Tech a convincing 58-50 lead with only 10 seconds remaining.

Senior guard Nikki Baird got a floater to go following an offensive rebound but with four seconds left it was too little too late.

The Bruins were outscored 22-13 in the final quarter as Belmont went 4-for-21 (19 percent) from the field and 2-for-13 (15.4 percent) from deep. The Yellow Jackets went 12-for-14 (85.7 percent) at the foul line in the quarter and 4-for-10 from the floor with two threes.

Finishing 7-for-34 (20.6 percent) from beyond the arc, the Bruins shot 31.3 percent (20-of-64) overall from the field. Despite going 18-for-60 (30 percent) from the floor across the 20 minutes, Georgia Tech converted 18 of its 25 free-throw attempts (72 percent).
 
The Yellow Jackets outrebounded Belmont 49-43 and committed only seven turnovers.
 
The Bruins turned the ball over just twice in the second half and assisted on 13 of their 20 made shots.

Bartley was Belmont's lone double figure score. Jones finished with a career-high matching 11 rebounds and Wells distributed a season-high six assists.
 
Jackson had a game-best 24 points and seven rebounds for Georgia Tech and the Yellow Jackets got 12 points and six boards from Swartz.

Of Note
The Bruins are 0-3 against Georgia Tech and 5-13 against current Atlantic Coast Conference members. Belmont finishes in sixth place in the Gulf Coast Showcase after going 1-2 in the tournament.
 
Up Next
Next Sunday the Bruins host the Yellow Jackets at the Curb Event Center. Returning home after a strenuous five-game road stretch, Belmont welcomes its second ACC opponent to the Music City after hosting then seventh-ranked Louisville on Nov. 13. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The marquee non-conference matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Both single game and season tickets are on sale. Season tickets are only $199 per seat and include all men's and women's basketball home games. Click here to view available seating and purchase your seats.
 
Flex pack plans for the 2022-23 season are also on sale and can be purchased here. For more information, call 615-460-BALL or visit BelmontBruins.com.
 
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