Tonie Morgan records Georgia Tech’s first triple-double in 23 years
McCAMISH PAVILION — #17 Georgia Tech women’s baskeball handedly defeated Clemson 89-65, ending a three game losing streak to move to 16-3 (4-3 ACC) for the season, their first win since January 2 when they won their 16th straight game. Clemson slides closer to .500, sitting at 10-9 (3-5 ACC) after the loss. Tech is 8th in the ACC standings as of writing but with plenty of games left against unranked ACC opponents before they will face a very difficult gauntlet to end the season.
The win came in front of the largest McCamish Pavilion crowd for a women’s basketball game ever with 6,386 in attendance. It’s the third largest crowd ever for a Georgia Tech women’s basketball game on campus, the two higher games coming during the Alexander Memorial Coliseum years (6,621 vs. UNC in 1995, 7.325 vs. UConn in 2010). It’s the highest home attendance ever for a Georgia Tech win. The previous McCamish Pavilion record was 5,517 attendees against Tennessee in 2012.
“I’ve got to shout out my Director of Recruiting Operations, Caleb Currier. There were 83 high school teams [in the building], and that’s him working it to get them here because there’s a big high school tournament in Atlanta. They played yesterday, they were playing tomorrow, so they had today off. He got them all here,” said Georgia Tech Head Coach Nell Fortner
And that may not have even been the best part of the day. Junior guard Tonie Morgan recorded the first triple-double in program history in 23 years, scoring 12 points with 12 rebounds and 14 assists. The last triple-double for the Jackets came on February 23, 2002 when Milli Martinez accomplished the feat against Robert Morris. Ja’von Franklin is the last Jacket from either the men’s or women’s team to get a triple-double, doing so at Syracuse in 2023.
Teamwide, it was one of the more impressive performances of the season.
“This is the first time we’ve had six in double figures. Really did a great job of sharing the basketball, I though. 28 assists on 35 made field goals is impressive. I thought they were really locked in,” said Fortner of the on court showing.
Those six were the aforementioned Tonie Morgan, Kara Dunn with a game leading 20 points, Kayla Blackshear with 19, Tianna Thompson with 13, Rusne Augustinaite with 11, and Chit-Chat Wright with 10.
Thompson’s 13 is her new career high in her freshman season, scoring 10 alone in the 4th quarter.
“[Tianna] is a really good example of trust your process. We had conversations about it, and all she’s done is put her head down to work…she was ready when her number was called and I’m super proud of her for that,” said Fortner.
Morgan’s triple-double almost wasn’t the most impressive aspect of the game, as her performance spoke to how well Tech was doing in other phases of the game that allowed her to be in good positions to score, be physical on the boards, and find teammates to rack up 14 assists.
“We ask a lot of Tonie and tonigh she responded each time,” said Fortner.
How It Happened
1Q
Tech got going quickly through Clemson’s defense with an 8-0 run via two layups and delightfully casual jumper/floater mashup shot from Chit Chat Wright. Kayla Blackshear’s entrance into the game pushed the lead back to seven with a jumper and layup to make it 12-5 going into the first media timeout.
Tech’s run kept on going, hitting eight consecutive shots to force a Clemson timeout up 25-11 with 1:20 left in the quarter. Kara Dunn hit a layup out of the timeout to make it 27-13, the shooting streak bleeding into the second quarter as both teams traded turnovers to end the quarter.
Stats via Georgia Tech
2Q (27-13 GT)
A missed Termis three (albeit a good look) ended Tech’s made field goal streak at nine, but followed it up with a pristine euro step layup from Morgan and the first three pointer of the game coming from Wright to make it 34-19. Loyal McQueen and Mia Moore found a little bit of a groove and shrunk Tech’s lead slightly, but a Tianna Thompson three for Tech put it back to a 14 point lead going into the 4:24 media timeout. Blackshear hit a pair of elbow jumpers before Wright hit her second three of the game to go up 20 points at half.
Stats via Georgia Tech
3Q (46-26 GT)
Clemson came out much stronger on defense, forcing three straight turnovers and hitting multiple threes for a 15-4 start within the first four minutes of the quarter. Clemson’s press did got Tech out of rhythm immediately and it turned into opportunities on the other end for Clemson until Fortner called timeout at the 6:20 mark. Clemson stole the ball on the inbounds pass right out of the timeout, eventually shrinking the lead to seven twice on buckets from Anya Poole and Loyal McQueen, the seventh and eighth consecutive buckets hit by Clemson.
Then, right when Tech needed a run, they got one. Six straight made field goals later with threes from Morgan and Dunn stretched Tech’s lead back to 15 to finish the quarter and kept their game shooting percentage above 60%.
Stats via Georgia Tech
4Q (67-52 GT)
In what was mostly garbage time for the whole quarter (and included a 5+ minute run of no field goals from Tech), Tonie Morgan did get the rebounds and assists needed to reach her first career triple-double. Tianna Thompson got an extended run scoring 10 points in her seven minutes off the bench in the quarter, leading all scorers in the 4th.
Stats and Game Leaders
Stats via Georgia Tech
Game Leaders
Points: Kara Dunn (GT) – 20
Assists: Tonie Morgan (GT) – 14
Rebounds: Tonie Morgan (GT) – 12
3PM: Chit-Chat Wright (GT)/Tianna Thompson (GT) – 2
Takeaways
This felt like a landmark day before the game even started. With the phenomenal job that Caleb Currier did in getting all those high school teams in the building, the environment was ripe for a historic day. With the national championship happening tomorrow, there was already a set vibe in Atlanta focused around college sports. This game was a natural extension of the celebration of college sports we have this weekend in the city.
I cannot begin to speak enough to how awesome Tonie Morgan is. Those that follow this team know she’s a one of one. Coming into today, she was averaging 13.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, and in a game where Tech seriously needed a win, had arguably the best game of her career to put Tech back in the win column.
And she wasn’t the leading scorer. That’s what makes this team so dangerous even with out Dani Carnegie. Oh, yeah, should’ve mentioned her earlier. Fortner said she is still day-to-day with her leg injury. She did help out with warmups but was not an active participant. D’Asia Thomas-Harris is also back to walking on two feet after spending the majority of the season on a scooter for her foot injury.
Back to the balanced attack: six players in double figures is miraculous. It speaks to the depth that has made this team dangerous. When things are clicking and they can run up and down the court, there is barely anyone that can stop them. If they’re going to make an ACC title run, it will require Dani Carnegie to come back with how lethal she is, but for the time being, Tech is head and shoulders in the top half of the conference even without her. There is no reason Tech fans shouldn’t be hopeful for one of the best seasons in program history.
How can you help? COME TO McCAMISH! If there’s any ceiling us at FTRS want to help break, it’s the program attendance record. We can do it.
#17 Georgia Tech’s next game is on the road this Thursday night, January 23rd at Virginia at 7pm (TV: ACCNX). They return to McCamish Pavilion next Sunday at 2pm against #16 Duke, where YOU can help reset the McCamish attendance record for the team in a crucial ACC game.