Tech women move to 3-0 with rout of Kennesaw

ATLANTA, Ga. - Kaela Davis scored 15 points to lead four in double figures as Georgia Tech defeated Kennesaw State 77-48 Wednesday at McCamish Pavilion.

For Tech (3-0), it was the ninth win in as many all-time meetings against its in-state rival. Davis, a Buford High School graduate, added eight rebounds, Aaliyah Whiteside had 14 points and 11 rebounds, while reserve Zaire O’Neil also scored 14 points and Sydney Wallace added 12.

The Yellow Jackets have won their first three games by an average margin of 31 points.

Whiteside was particularly impressive, tying her career rebounding high, hitting 3-of-4 from three-point range, and adding four assists. The junior, who was coming off a career-high 26 points in a win over Morgan State, is averaging over nine rebounds in three games.

“Aaliyah Whiteside…she’s playing multiple positions and playing well,” said Tech coach MaChelle Joseph. “She worked really hard in the offseason on her conditioning level and it’s put her in position to play longer and more positions. She’s bigger, stronger, and faster than she was a year ago.”

The visiting Owls (2-1) opened the game strong, hitting nine of their first 16 shots from the field, and Deandrea Sawyers had eight early points, including a 3-pointer that gave KSU its largest lead of the game at 21-16.

There were few memorable moments for the Owls over the final stretches of the opening half. KSU went seven minutes without a point while Tech had five different players score during a 12-0 spurt, putting the hosts up 28-21 at the 7:16 mark.

After the great early stretch, KSU missed 11 of its last 12 shots and committed eight of its 11 first-half turnovers over the final 11 minutes.

“We got off to a slow start. That’s what happens with a young team,” said Joseph, whose has eight freshmen and sophomores on the roster, including the sophomore Davis and the freshman O’Neil.

Whiteside provided a huge spark early on for Tech. She hit a three from the top of the key and followed that with a put back as the Yellow Jackets held a 12-9 advantage four and a half minutes in.

KSU went on a 12-4 run, thanks to Sawyers and Douglas County High School product Kristina Wells, who hit a jumper to put the Owls up 16-14 and assisted on Sawyers’ three.

Sawyers finished with a game-high 18 points and Wells added 11 for Kennesaw State, which turned the ball over 20 times and was out-rebounded 48-30. The Yellow Jackets also corralled 24 rebounds on the offensive end with all but two of the 11 players grabbing at least one.

“We really take pride in our offensive rebounding, and our goal every game is to get 20 offensive rebounds,” Joseph said.

Tech welcomes another rival to McCamish on Sunday when Associated Press No. 24 Georgia visits for a 2 pm tip.