Maryland
Georgia Tech
Women's Hoops Falls to Georgia Tech
6/21/1999 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
January 22, 1999
ATLANTA - Freshman Niesha Butler scored a game-high 20 points to lead three Georgia Tech players in double figures as the Yellow Jackets snapped a five-game losing skid by topping Maryland 72-56 in an Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald's Center.
The Yellow Jackets (10-8 overall, 3-5 ACC) registered a season-high 19 steals and thwarted a late comeback attempt by the Terrapins (3-14, 1-7).
Maryland cut a nine-point second-half deficit to four with 6:18 to play, but Tech used an 11-2 spurt to push its lead to 13 with just 1:46 left. After Antonieta Gabriel's layup moved Maryland to within four at 48-44, Tech junior Danielle Donehew answered with a three-pointer to put the Jackets up seven with 4:27 left.
Gabriel answered with another layup to cut the Terp deficit to five, but Maryland got no closer as Butler scored six straight points, and senior Kenya Williams added a basket to put the Jackets up 59-46 with 1:46 to play.
Tech sealed the win from the foul line by hitting 6-of-6 free throws in the final minute.
Donehew connected on four three pointers for Tech and finished with 17 points. Sophomore Regina Tate added 13 points and nine rebounds, and sophomore Jaime Kruppa had eight points and 12 boards. Senior Kelley Gibson led the Terrapins with 14 points, while freshman Deedee Warley had 12.
The win was the Yellow Jackets' first since topping Florida State 92-70 at home on Jan. 2. Four of Tech's five losses in the skid came at the hands of ranked opponents.
Georgia Tech hosts another ranked foe Sunday as the Jackets welcome seventh-ranked North Carolina to Alexander Memorial Coliseum at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised live by FOX Sports South.
