UMass vs. Georgia Tech

4SHOT Sports

College Hoops
UMass vs. Georgia Tech
By Larry Williams/4SHOT Hoops
Jan 1, 2006, 01:30 EST

Atlanta Marriott NW Holiday Invitational

Championship Game

“Lady Yellow Jackets” capture Invitational Title
Janie Mitchell earns MVP honors

Alexander Memorial Coliseum/GA Tech – Atlanta GA

Tech's Chioma Nnamaka and Jill Ingram combined for 35 points.

Georgia Tech’s 6-0 sophomore Janie Mitchell’s game is really taking off this season, last year as a freshman she seemed to rush everything but most rookies do. I could tell she put in the work over the off-season because her game is much more refined and it has paid off as she recorded a double-double (14 pts and 12 rebounds) to lead Georgia Tech to victory and earn MVP honors.

The “Lady Minutemen” from the UMass didn’t seem at all intimidated at playing the part of underdog to the “Lady Yellow Jackets” from Georgia Tech in the championship game of the Atlanta Marriott Northwest Holiday Invitational, as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead on three-points by Katie Nelson and former Newton County H.S. star Ashley Sharpton.

Pam Rosanto gets a pick from teammate Whitney McDonald.

Sharpton playing in front of family and friends knocked down her 2^nd three-pointer to give UMass a 9-2 lead. Despite a slow start Georgia Tech stayed patient in what Head Coach MaChelle Joseph wanted them to run and got a jumper from Chioma Nnamaka to cut the lead to 9-5.

UMass continued to stroke the ball well as Pam Rosanto knocked down a three-pointer (the 3^rd of the game for the “Lady Minutemen”) to up the lead to 12-5.

Georgia Tech’s Jill Ingram final got it going drilling a three-pointer and knocking down a baseline jumper to cut the lead to 14-10 with 11:57 left in the half.

The basket must have been looking pretty wide to UMass as Nelson drained another three-pointer to push the lead up to 17-10. Rosanio and Tamara Tatham did a nice job inside for Head Coach Mamie Dacko in the 1^st half; with 7:20 left in the half Rosanto scored to give the “Lady Minutemen” their largest lead of the game 19-10.

Former Douglas Co. star scores on a baby hook shot.

Despite missing several easy baskets the “Lady Yellow Jackets” kept battling, Janie Mitchell’s basket cut the lead to 19-14 with 5:54 left in the half and forced UMass to call a timeout. After the timeout the “Lady Minutemen” settled down and ran a nice pick and roll to Whitney McDonald who scored making the score 23-14.

Georgia Tech ended the half with a mini run spearheaded by a three-pointer from Nnamaka to pull to within 4 points at the half 23-19.

Mitchell opened up the 2^nd half sticking a jumper to cut the lead to 23-21. Former Central Gwinnett H.S. star Stephaine Higgs had a rough day shooting the ball; she hit 1 of 2 free-throws to cut the lead to one.

UMass held steady kicking the ball inside to Kate Mills who scored back-to-back baskets as the “Lady Minutemen” opened up a 6-point lead 29-23 with just over 16:00 minutes left in the game.

Mitchell scored again as the “Lady Yellow Jackets” started to make their move. A three-pointer by Ingram and a free-throw by Higgins tied the score at 31-31 with 13:23 to play.

Former Newton Co. H.S. star Ashley Sharpton.

Georgia Tech took their first lead of the game 33-31 when Nnamaka knocked down long jumper from the corner. The lead went back and forth for the next several minutes until the “Lady Yellow Jackets” went on a mini run; three-pointers by Ingram and Nnamaka gave Georgia Tech their largest lead of the game 41-36 forcing UMass to call a timeout with 8:00 minutes to play.

Nnamaka was starting feel it as she banged out a deep three to make the score 46-40. UMass started to run out of steam and it showed as their shots began to lip out of the basket and their fouls started to mount. Mitchell scored inside as Georgia Tech’s lead reached double figures 50-40 with just under 4:00 minutes to play.

With the :30 second clock about to run out Higgins scored to all but put an end to UMass making any type of come back. Nnamaka finished off a good tournament hitting 1 of 2 free-throws as the “Lady Yellow Jackets” went on to a 57-43 championship game win.

Scoring Recap

Georgia Tech:

Jill Ingram scored a game high 18 points and dished out 4 assists to lead the “Lady Yellow Jackets”. Running mate Chioma Nnamaka finished with 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Janie Mitchell recorded a 14 point/12 rebound double-double to earn MVP honors.

UMass:
Pam Rosanto led UMass with 12 points, Kate Mills finished with 8 points. Katie Nelson and Ashley Sharpton each chipped in with 6 points.