Women set Tech ACC wins record

It was a two-woman show for the Jackets on Friday night. Janie Mitchell and Chioma Nnamaka each scored over 20 points to help the women's basketball breeze through the Miami Hurricanes 66-45.

Mitchell had 22, while leading the team in rebounds, and Nnamaka added 21 to give Tech its second straight win, both coming on the road.

Miami was led by Renee Taylor who scored 17 points and exemplified her team's poor shooting. Taylor amassed all of her points from beyond the arc and at the foul line, missing both of her two point attempts. As a team, Miami shot better from beyond the arc than within it, ending up making only 11 of 29 on the inside.

Tech never trailed in the game, using a quick 4-0 start to take the lead. However, Miami's showed their tenacity as they desperately fought for loose balls and grabbed offensive rebounds. Tech allowed six shots on Miami's next two possessions, leading to two layups by Miami's Charmaine Clark.

In the next few minutes, the tables turned as senior guard Stephanie Higgs used a steal and two offensive rebounds to lead Tech on a 17-4 run.

The rebounding also picked up after the early problems, as Tech only allowed two more offensive rebounds for the rest of the half. With the improved play on both ends of the court the Jackets took a comfortable 31-21 lead into the locker room.

Coming out of the half, Tech lacked the intensity they had at the end of the first half. Less than five minutes into the second half, their modest ten-point lead dissolved to five. Poor shot selection and ineptitude on defense again plagued the team.

Coach Joseph subbed out of three starters, and an improved performance by Mitchell and Nnamaka served as the perfect spark for the team. The two girls scored 23 of Tech's points down the stretch, compared to the 11 by the rest of the team.

Mitchell was able to take advantage of her size against a smaller and less physical Miami interior. As a result, Nnamaka was freed up on the outside for clean jumpers, while the entire Hurricanes defense moved to stop Mitchell's inside presence.

In the end, Mitchell's strength was too much to overcome as the 'Canes never got closer than 11 points and Tech stretched the lead to as large as 21 points.

Four days later on Monday night, the women's basketball team beat Clemson 62-59 to extend their winning streak to three and assure the team of their first season record above .500 in ACC conference play. Tech entered the ACC in the 1979-80 season.

Clemson came into the game with only four conference wins and seven losses in their last 10 games, but this didn't stop them from doing everything possible to ruin the Jackets' possible historic night. The Tigers were led in scoring by Tasha Terry who ended with 17 points and two steals. Clemson employed a 2-3 zone throughout the game, throwing Tech off their offensive rhythm.

"Not only has [Clemson] played the zone for 40 minutes in each of their games, so they are good at it but they're also quick enough to cover lots of space," Joseph said.

Their inability to run on offense forced Tech to play an inside-out game, allowing Nnamaka and Mitchell to lead the team in scoring. Mitchell scored 13 mostly off of mid-range jumpers and Nnamaka took advantage of the open space around the perimeter, scoring 14 with all her baskets coming from behind the arc.

Early in the game the Jackets counteracted the zone with movement and effective shot selection. Mitchell found the holes in the zone and popped open at the free throw line, draining uncontested jumpers and building a 16-11 lead midway throughout the first half.

A lack of movement and Clemson's well-played zone caused Tech's offense to struggle. This led to a multitude of turnovers and poor shots; three times, Tech took desperate three-pointers as the shot clock expired.

Clemson used Tech's offensive ineptitude to their advantage, creating 12 points off of nine first-half Tech turnovers. By halftime the Tigers had tied the game at 27 apiece. Tech played well in the first few minutes of the second half, building a six point lead right out of the break.

"Coach [Joseph] didn't have to yell or scream, she just reminded us of what was at stake," Mitchell said.

Soon after, Tech began to experience the same problems the team faced in the first half. The team became stagnant on the offensive end, and Clemson's zone defense dug in. Clemson's Taylor led her team to give the visitors a two-point lead.

Tech looked as if they were losing their grip on the game and their year-long goal, but a block from an unlikely source sparked the team down the stretch. 5'7" Williams' block on 6'3" Moreemi Davis' shot inspired the players and the fans.

Towards the end, Tech converted on their free throw attempts and made enough stops to get past the Tigers.

"This has been our goal since the beginning of the season...and it feels good to accomplish something you've worked towards all year," Joseph said.

"When you are first recruited to Tech that's something you want to be the first to accomplish, and it's nice to always have something to be remembered for," Mitchell said.

Joseph and the team hope to continue their recent success into the ACC Tournament, which begins on March 1st.

The team plays their final regular season against Longwood on Sunday at 2 p.m.