It came down to one shot, we didn’t shoot.
A day after getting back into the win column, #9-seed Georgia Tech women’s basketball lost a heartbreaking rematch to #1-seed (national #7) NC State 73-72 in the dwindling seconds of the ACC Quarterfinal. Tech had as much as a nine point lead over the Wolfpack early in the game and never went down more than four, but four straight NC State buckets to end the game were enough to put Tech away.
The loss makes Tech 22-10 on the season, all 10 losses coming against ACC teams, NC State the only team this year to have beat them twice. It was as good an opportunity as Tech will ever have to knock off a top-10 team, as NC State came out looking slow and unable to put significant pressure on Tonie Morgan and the rest of Tech’s offense.
Tech from top top bottom had a great game all things considered. Both Tonie Morgan and Kara Dunn scored 21 points on 50% shooting, Morgan recording her 3rd double-double of the season (15th career) with 11 assists to pair with it. The duo last scored 20+ points together in Tech’s 2OT loss to Virginia Tech in January.
Despite having trouble fully dealing with NC State’s Tilda Trygger in the paint, Tech outrebounded NC State 44-37, effectively utilizing a 3-2 zone defense in spots during the game when Ari Termis had to play center due to Kayla Blackshear getting in early foul trouble. Despite Tech’s 11 turnovers to NC State’s six, Tech managed to score more off turnovers with a 14-8 advantage.
Tech is 99.9% guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament field as an at-large bid, putting together the most wins in team history since 2011-2012 with 22. The latest Charlie Creme projections have Tech as a 9-seed in the NCAA Tournament heading to the Austin regional facing Creighton in the first round. Potential other locations include USC, UCLA, and South Carolina.
How It Happened
1Q
Tech took advantage of a soft NC State defense in the early minutes, getting multiple steals to create transition buckets and had no problem penetrating to the bucket on normal possessions. Tonie Morgan and Kara Dunn both hit two baskets in the first five minutes for a 13-8 lead at the first media timeout.
After a NC State bucket, Tech went on a 7-0 run with buckets from Dunn, Morgan, and Chit-Chat Wright for a 20-12 lead before Dunn hit another three for a 23-14 lead. A couple late defensive blunders allowed the Wolfpack to chip away at the Tech lead.
Stats via ACC
2Q (23-18 GT)
Dani Carnegie hit a three to open up the second quarter scoring for an eight point lead, but Tech soon was out of their planned lineups as Kayla Blackshear got hit with two quick fouls, necessitating Ari Termis’ entry into the game. Head Coach Nell Fortner also switched into a zone defense to help clog up the paint. That didn’t do too much to help as NC State went on a 6-0 run to tie it at 28-28, prompting a GT timeout.
Both teams shot cold from the field from that point on, notably Tech who missed seven consecutive field goals until a Termis bucket tied it at 32-32. NC State then hit back to back threes for their largest lead at 38-34 before Kara Dunn hit a putback three point play to finish the half.
Stats via ACC
3Q (38-37 NC State)
After turning her ankle at the end of 2nd quarter, Morgan came out firing with two driving layups for a 41-38 Tech lead before Saniya Rivers hit her first three of the game to tie at 41-41. Tech stayed in their 3-2 zone defense and were content to let NC State shoot deep threes while not letting anything through to the paint. Morgan again had a big moment with a block that should’ve turned into a GT possession, but the refs missed that the ball bounced off of an NC State player, so they got an extra possession and tied it at 43-43, but Dani Carnegie landed a three for a 46-43 lead. She then hit another field goal (more on this in the next paragraph) and a free throw for a 49-43 lead that barely lasted as Tilda Trygger nailed three straight shots to tie it at 49, forcing Tech’s second timeout to stem the run.
After the timeout, Tech was given an additional points after a three point basket by Carnegie was incorrectly scored a two, so Tech had a 50-49 lead. Morgan hit another layup but Tech came up empty to end the quarter, allowing layups by Rivers and Hayes by the Wolfpack for an even 15-15 quarter.
Stats via ACC
4Q (53-52 NC State)
Tech got off on the wrong foot with a shot clock violation and their 10th turnover of the game to start the 4th (NC State had only four to this point), but got out of the funk with a 10-2 run with threes by Dunn and Wright for a 62-58 lead. Tech had no answer for Zoe Brooks though, who hit four straight buckets for NC state to tie it at 62-62 halfway through the quarter, prompting Tech’s third timeout.
From there, Dunn hit two free throws to put Tech only down 69-68 with just under 90 seconds left. Tech then got a free possession after Wright drew a charge that on replay assuredly was a blocking foul. Wright took advantage and hit a jumper to give Tech a 70-69 lead with 47 seconds left. Aziaha James wasted no time countering with her own jumper for a 71-69 NC State lead at 40 seconds left.
Needing to drain clock, Wright turned the ball over early in Tech’s next possession, but managed to force a scramble for the ball as the Wolfpack were attempting to move in transition, winning the scrap and getting Carnegie the ball who then drew a foul at :15.1 seconds left. She drained both free throws to put Tech up 72-71.
NC State’s last possession resulted in James drawing a foul on Ines Noguero with seven seconds left and hitting both free throws for a 73-72 lead. Morgan took the ball down the floor and handed it to Carnegie with two seconds left, who looked unaware of the clock and failed to get a shot off before the final buzzer.
Stats & Game Leaders
Stats via ACC
Game Leaders
Points: Tonie Morgan (GT)/Kara Dunn (GT) – 21
Assists: Tonie Morgan (GT) – 5
Rebounds: Tonie Morgan (GT) – 11
3PTM: Dani Carnegie (GT) – 3
Had Tech managed to pull the upset, they would’ve become only the second team in ACC Tournament history to pull off a 9 vs. 1 upset, NC State coincidentally being the only team thus far to accomplish the feat. It also would’ve been Tech’s 4th win against a ranked opponent this season, something they haven’t done since 2020.
Tech will find out their next opponent on Selection Sunday, March 16, playing that following Thursday or Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It will be Tech’s 13th NCAA Tournament apperance in program history.