March 22, 2009
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
2009 DIVISION I WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
(Carver-Hawkeye Arena) • (Iowa City, Iowa)
(March 22, 2009)
#9 GEORGIA TECH 76, #8 IOWA 62
GEORGIA TECH POST-GAME NOTES
Ninth-seeded Georgia Tech (22-9) defeated eight-seeded Iowa (21-11), 76-62. They will face top-seed Oklahoma Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. (CT).
Georgia Tech is now 2-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. They own a 2-0 record vs. Iowa.
Georgia Tech’s starting five for Sunday night’s match-up with the Hawkeyes consisted of Jacqua Williams, Deja Foster, Iasia Hemingway, Brigitte Ardossi and Sasha Goodlett.
Georgia Tech played the game without sophomore Alex Montgomery, a third-team All-ACC selection this season and the team leader in both points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (6.7). She has started 28 of 30 games this season, but was injured in Georgia Tech’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against Clemson and did not make the trip to Iowa City (dislocated kneecap).
Georgia Tech controlled the paint the whole night, outscoring the Hawkeyes 46-12. That mark is the third-highest of the season. The team high was set in a Feb. 11 win against Savannah State (52). The Yellow Jackets had a 28-4 edge on points in the paint during the first half.
Georgia Tech blitzed Iowa on the glass, out-rebounding the Hawkeyes 43-30. The Yellow Jackets got plenty of second chance opportunities, scoring 18 points off of 19 offensive rebounds.
Senior guard Jacqua Williams was the game’s high scorer with 23 points (8-17 FG) and also logged 38 minutes. Freshman center Sasha Goodlett pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds while chipping in with 16 points. Two other Yellow Jackets were double-digit scorers: Iasia Hemingway (16) and Brigitte Ardossi (11).
The Yellow Jackets’ pressure defense forced 17 Iowa turnovers and converted them into 21 points.
Iowa was in control early, leading 12-8 before Georgia Tech went on a 17-2 run to take a 25-14 lead at the 7:11 mark. During the 7:21 stretch of time, Iowa made only one field goal (1-8) and committed four turnovers.
Georgia Tech led 36-31 at halftime. Coming into the game, Georgia Tech was 19-0 when leading at the half. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Hawkeyes 40-31 in the second half.
The Yellow Jackets only attempted seven three-pointers on the evening (two makes), compared to Iowa, who went 6-15 from behind the arc.
On the season, Georgia Tech averages 67.5 points per game, but eclipsed that mark by nine Sunday night.
Georgia Tech went 14-21 from the free-throw line (66%).
IOWA POST-GAME NOTES
Iowa finishes the 2009 season with a 21-11 overall record. The Hawkeyes went 13-5 in Big Ten play and finished in a three-way tie for second place in the conference.
Sunday’s game marked the final game for Hawkeye seniors Kristi Smith, Wendy Ausdemore, Nicole VanderPol, Megan Skouby and Lindsey Nyenhuis.
Iowa’s trio of Kristi Smith, Megan Skouby and Wendy Ausdemore finished their careers as the first three players, from the same class, to eclipse 1,300 career points in Big Ten history. It is also believed that they are the highest scoring trio, from the same class, in Big Ten history. The three seniors have combined for 4,237 points: Smith (1,455), Skouby (1,439) and Ausdemore (1,343).
Sophomore Kachine Alexander recorded her ninth double-double of the season, finishing with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Kachine Alexander broke the Iowa single season record for free-throws attempted against Georgia Tech. The sophomore shot 14 free throws tonight, bringing her season total to 176. Former Hawkeye Amy Herrig previously held the record with 169 attempts during the 1998-99 campaign.
Kachine Alexander’s 14 free-throw attempts are the second-most for the sophomore this season.
In her first NCAA Tournament game, freshman Kamille Wahlin scored over her points per game average in the first half, recording 10 points on 3-6 shooting (2-2 3 pt. FG’s, 2-2 FT’s). Wahlin finished with 14 points.
Kristi Smith played the entire 40 minutes, while freshman Kamille Wahlin logged 39 minutes.
Iowa was outscored 46-12 in the paint and gave up 18 second-chance points off 19 Georgia Tech offensive rebounds. Iowa was out-rebounded by 13 (43-30). Georgia Tech also netted 21 points off 17 Hawkeye turnovers.
Iowa only trailed by five at halftime, despite shooting 39.3% from the field and committing seven turnovers. Iowa was also outscored 28-4 in the paint during the first 20 minutes and gave up 25 total rebounds, including 12 offensive boards.
Iowa finished the 2009 campaign with a 1-5 record when scoring 50-59 points.
The Hawkeyes were 3-10 when trailing at the half this season.