- Georgia Tech erases 4th-quarter deficit with 17 unanswered points
- Tonie Morgan scores game-high 19 to avenge double-OT regular season loss
- Virginia Tech's Micheaux hits career 1,000 points in losing effort
In a stunning reversal of fortune, ninth-seeded Georgia Tech (22-9) unleashed a decisive 17-0 fourth-quarter rally to eliminate eighth-seeded Virginia Tech from the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament. The Yellow Jackets' victory sets up a Friday quarterfinal matchup against top-seeded NC State, ranked seventh nationally.
Tonie Morgan spearheaded Georgia Tech's offense with 19 points, while freshman Dani Carnegie nearly achieved a double-double with 15 points and 9 rebounds. The Yellow Jackets' defensive intensity peaked during the critical fourth-quarter stretch, forcing seven consecutive missed shots and two turnovers over a five-minute span.
Virginia Tech (18-12) appeared poised for victory when leading 37-36 late in the third quarter, but faltered under Georgia Tech's full-court pressure. Rose Micheaux's 19-point performance highlighted the Hokies' effort, including the basket that pushed her past 1,000 career points.
Industry Insight: Late-game execution separates contenders in conference tournaments. Teams that convert 70%+ of clutch-time possessions (last 5 minutes, score within 5 points) win 83% of NCAA tournament games (WBCA 2023 data). Georgia Tech's 17-0 run demonstrates championship-caliber poise under pressure.
Regional Impact: Greensboro's 21-year streak hosting ACC tournaments generates $17.8M annual economic impact (Greensboro Sports Commission). The neutral-site environment often favors teams with strong traveling fanbases - a factor that could influence Friday's quarterfinal attendance.
With the victory, Georgia Tech improves to 3-1 in ACC Tournament openers under coach Nell Fortner. The Yellow Jackets will need to replicate their defensive intensity against NC State, who won both regular-season meetings by an average of 14 points.