Second game sans Dani Carnegie leaves Tech undermanned
Still looking for their first ever win against Louisville in women’s basketball, #13 Georgia Tech lost 69-60 to the Cardinals, marking their second consecutive loss after a program record 15-0 start. The Jackets now are 15-2 (3-2 ACC) with one game left in their short road trip.
This was Tech’s first full game without their leading scorer, Dani Carnegie, who suffered a hamstring injury against Virginia Tech three days prior. From the eye test, it was clear Tech was missing a step without her out there.
Tech in the first half struggled in converting points off turnovers, losing 14-2 in the points off turnovers battle despite equalling Louisville with 10 turnovers a piece. Louisville went on a 16-2 run that created the gap in the game that Tech was never able to recover from. Dani Carnegie’s absence was clear as in plenty of moments where Louisville was pulling closer to a double digit lead, she wasn’t around to get the reliable bucket that had become the bedrock of Tech’s offense.
The Cardinals offense instead shot 60% to Tech’s 40% in the first half, Tech relying heavily on Tonie Morgan to generate offense shooting only 3-9 with two assists. Seven Louisville players managed to score with Ja’Leah Williams playing all 20 minutes and scoring nine.
Tech jolted up in the third quarter with a bucket from Zoe Smith and an Ari Termis three before a good run of play from Louisville that stopped Tech on a double possession and got Tech twisted up on defense enough to where their lead stretched to 18 points with under 2:30 left in the quarter. Fortner had Tech switch into a zone defense after a timeout, resulting in three straight Louisville turnovers and a three by Wright plus a three point play by Dunn to end the quarter, pulling Tech to within ten after a 10-2 run to finish.
Despite consistent scoring in front end of the fourth quarter, Louisville countered to hold their lead in the 8-12 point range to under five minutes left in the game. Kara Dunn had a steal underneath the basket down eight where a transition bucket would’ve brought Tech as close as they’d been since the beginning of the game, but she turned it over after having multiple looks to shoot.
Kayla Blackshear and Tonie Morgan both hit free throws to pull Tech within five points, but the Jackets couldn’t get a normal field goal to hit in the final 4:13, allowing Louisville to keep Tech enough at bay for the 69-60 win.
It does not get easier from here as Tech goes to #3 Notre Dame on Thursday, a game we’ve known is going to be the hardest to win on the schedule. With Carnegie more than likely not going to play in that game, the rest of Tech’s depth is going to have to step up, especially on the defensive end against ND’s superstars in Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles.