Led by a strong performance from senior forward Brigitte Ardossi, the No. 22 women’s basketball team defeated Wake Forest 72-66 last Thursday in the Thrillerdome.
Ardossi entered Thursday night’s game averaging team highs of 13.5 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. Against the Demon Deacons (11-7, 2-2 ACC), she scored a career high 29 points on 10-for-15 shooting and added 11 rebounds.
Along with her outstanding offensive output, Ardossi shut down Wake’s best player, junior forward Brittany Waters. Waters entered the game averaging 15.6 points, but Ardossi managed to hold her to just five. Waters also fouled out trying to guard Ardossi with 9:50 left in the game. Her early exit dented Wake’s chances for a comeback.
With Waters out, Wake relied heavily on senior guard Courtney Morris and freshman guard Asia Williams. Each player had 14 points off of the bench and Williams added a team-high six rebounds in just her 17th collegiate game.
For the Jackets, junior guard Alex Montgomery added 15 points and five assists off the bench to help the Jackets win their second consecutive conference game.
Ardossi started the game with seven of the Jackets’ first 15 points, giving them an early 15-5 lead. Montgomery added four consecutive three-point shots in the first half to give the Jackets a commanding 32-18 lead.
However, a 13-4 Wake run cut the Jackets’ lead to five points at 36-31.
Wake added two quick shots to start the second half to pull within one of the Jackets, but three consecutive Ardossi field goals capped a 15-5 Tech run that gave the Jackets a 51-40 lead, one that they never relinquished.
After their win at home, the Jackets traveled to Boston College (11-7, 2-1 ACC) on Sunday to take on the Eagles. The Eagles snapped Tech’s two game winning streak with a convincing 77-51 win.
Ardossi managed to score 10 points in the game, but her opponent outplayed her. Boston College’s junior forward Stefanie Murphy scored a season-high 25 points and had eight rebounds.
Sophomore center Sasha Goodlett led the Jackets (15-4, 2-2 ACC) with 16 points, but the Jackets’ 51 total points marked their second-lowest output of the season.
The Eagles jumped out to a 10-0 lead and used their 48 points in the paint to wear down the Jackets for the victory. By contrast, Tech finished the game with only 28 points in the paint.
Following last night’s game against Savannah State, the Jackets will return to ACC action on Sunday against Virginia.