Double OT thriller ends with the Jackets’ first loss of the season
THE THRILLERDOME — The #13 Jackets were handed their first loss tonight in a barnburner, falling to Virginia Tech in 2OT, 105-94. Kara Dunn dropped 33 points and 10 on the night leading all scorers and recording her third double-double this season. Tonie Morgan notched her 1,000th point as a Yellow Jacket and scored 28 this evening.
Tech moves to 15-1 (3-1 ACC) on the season, ending both the longest win streak to start a season and longest win streak in program history for the team. It’s Tech’s first loss of any kind since the 2023-24 season finale in the WBIT against Mississippi State. Their last OT loss came last season as well against NC State. It was Tech’s first 2OT game since 2023 against Pitt.
I believe the old rust or rest adage is applicable here. After not playing in over a week, the Jackets were off to a slow start even with a pre-jump ball lead courtesy of an administrative tech on the Hokies. Scoring was evenly matched throughout the first quarter with two Hokies, Carleigh Wenzel and Matilda Ekh, quickly establishing themselves as shooters. Georgia Tech shot 52.9% from the field in the first, a number which would not improve as time wore on. The second boasted some big threes, a 1,000-point milestone for Tonie Morgan, and a scoring drought from the Hokies. The Jackets headed into the locker room up by eight.
The second half boasted some less favorable stats. The Jackets went 0-3 from the arc in the third quarter and lost their star freshman, Dani Carnegie, to injury for the remainder of the game. The third ended with Georgia Tech still up by eight, but Virginia Tech mounted a comeback to tie the game at 72 with 5:04 left to play. The Jackets were held scoreless for three minutes as time ticked away. With a minute left to play, the Hokies led 80-76, but Kara Dunn and Tonie Morgan would each sink a layup to send the game into overtime.
The first overtime passed with little excitement until the final seconds. A pair of free throws sent the Hokies up by three. Tech regained possession of the ball, and as the last 12 seconds ticked away Chit-Chat Wright missed a jumper. Dunn pulled down the board and swung the ball out to Runse Augustinaite, who was open in front of the Tech bench. As time expired, Augustinaite’s three swished through the net, sending the game into a second overtime.
Despite Runse’s invigorating bucket, it was not enough to electrify the Jackets. The final period of the game belonged to VT, who scored eight unanswered buckets in the first few minutes of 2OT. The Jackets were unable to hit much, and the game closed out with the Hokies on top, 105-94.
There are plenty of options for where to place the blame for the result of this game, but Tech was unable to capitalize on an 11-point lead late in the third. Missed free throws (16-22) and giving up easy buckets in transition is a recipe for a loss for any team. Regularly all game VT would blister the Jackets in transition and force a 1v1 at the bucket on the run. The Hokies were able to score 16 points on turnovers and 17 second-chance points.
Tonie Morgan played through what looked to be a slightly injured calf and could be seen grimacing in moments after receiving some treatment, but she still played a nearly full speed and delivered some critical buckets down the stretch. With Carnegie out and Virginia Tech bringing a lot of size on the floor, Tech’s three point threat didn’t loom as large to the point they only shot 15 of them in regulation.
Tech is back in action on Sunday, January 12 at Louisville at 4 p.m.