Dec. 30, 2007

Freshman Carries Tech to 57-31 Win over Chicago State

Alex Montgomery scored in double-figures for third straight game to lead Georgia Tech (11-1) to a 57-31 win over Chicago State (5-7) in the first round of the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center Holiday Tournament at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

Montgomery finished with a team-high 16 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes of action to lead Tech into Sunday's championship game. Freshman Shaday Woolcock added a career-high eight points and five rebounds in extensive minutes off the bench and Jacqua Williams had six steals help Tech to the victory.

Tech's defense proved to be the difference in the game, holding the Cougars to only 25 percent shooting from the field and forcing them into 23 turnovers. Tech also took advantage at the free-throw line, hitting 12-of-15 for a season-high 80 percent.

No. 5 Maryland Routs Richmond, 89-59

Marissa Coleman knew if Maryland kept to its game, Richmond wouldn't be a problem. She just didn't know how easy the Terrapins would make things look.

Coleman scored 23 points, Crystal Langhorne had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Maryland beat Richmond 89-59 Saturday.

"I knew if we came out and played together and played our style of basketball and kept the tempo going, we could have a commanding lead," Coleman said. "You never go into a game saying you're going to win by a certain amount of points."

Coleman went 6-for-8 from the floor, made four 3-pointers and grabbed 10 rebounds to ignite the Terrapins (15-1). Maryland opened with a 7-0 run, led by as many as 35 points and never trailed.

Tech opens Hokie Hardwood Classic with 82-49 win over Furman

The Virginia Tech women's basketball team extended its Hokie Hardwood Classic tournament winning streak to 19 games as they defeated Furman, 82-49, in front of a season-high 4,894 fans at Cassell Coliseum.

Virginia Tech (11-2) showed little rust from the week long holiday break against Furman (4-7) as the Hokies took an early lead they would never relinquish.

Rebounding and creating opportunities were the keys to the game as Tech out rebounded Furman 48-32 while also outscoring the Lady Paladins 19-2 on fast breaks. Over the last three games, the Hokies have averaged 19.3 more rebounds than their opponent. Also, this was the second time this season that they held a team to under 50 points, the first coming against Winston-Salem State in a 67-43 home win on Nov. 14.

Virginia Takes Marriott Cavalier Classic Title With 78-56 Victory Over Marshall

Tournament Most Valuable Player Monica Wright led the way with 22 points and the Virginia women's basketball team used a second-half surge to win the 2007 Marriott Cavalier Classic championship, 78-56, over Marshall Saturday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

Wright was joined on the all-tournament team by Lyndra Littles, who finished with 16 points. Aisha Mohammed notched her fifth double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and fourth-year point guard Sharneé Zoll added eight points, five rebounds and four assists in an all-around effort.

With the score tied 12-12 early in the first half, Virginia (9-4) went on a key 12-2 run that was capped off by a layup by Mohammed to claim a 24-14 lead with 8:39 left in the opening period. The Thundering Herd (8-5) fought back, however, and two free throws by Alix Barnette in the waning seconds of the half pulled Marshall within six points, 35-29.

FSU Women's Basketball Can't Complete The Upset, Falling To #7 Georgia 71-62 In OT

A valiant effort came up just short for the Florida State women's basketball team in its upset bid of No. 7 Georgia on the first day of the FIU Fun and Sun Classic. The Seminoles took the Bulldogs to over time, but UGA outscored them 14-5 in the extra period for the 71-62 triumph on Saturday (December 29).

The loss snapped Florida State's three-game winning streak as it fell to 9-4. The Seminoles are still looking for their first victory over a ranked team in the regular season since February 26, 2006, when they beat No. 17 Boston College. Georgia stayed undefeated at 11-0.

Topping the Seminoles was junior Mara Freshour (Nashville, Ind.) as she scored 20 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists. Having equally as well a game was rookie Courtney Ward (Montgomery, Ala.) with 12 points, six rebounds and six assists. Senior Shante Williams was the third player in double figures at 10 points and seven rebounds.

Hurricanes Fall in First Round of UM Holiday Tournament

The University of Miami women's basketball team (5-8) was unable to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit, falling to the University of Maine (3-9) 53-54 at the BankUnited Center in the opening round of the UM Holiday Tournament.

Miami senior Maurita Reid had her best game of the season, scoring 25 points while tying a career-high with five three-pointers. Reid also picked up seven steals in the contest raising her average to 4.2 thefts per game.

Down by 13 at the break, the Hurricanes like they have so many times this year, started to claw back in the second half. Reid led the charge as she scored 16 points in the later period. Her three-pointer with 1:34 left made it a four-point game. Carla Williams cut the lead to two at 54-52 with 24 seconds left.