ATLANTA (Interstat) — Georgia Tech used a dominant second quarter to defeat Norfolk State 72-57 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday night at Hank McCamish Pavilion. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Spartans 28-12 in the period to build a 48-28 halftime lead and were never threatened. Talayah Walker led Georgia Tech with 20 points and five assists. Catherine Alben added 20 points for the Yellow Jackets, who improved to 4-6. Jasha Clinton scored 18 points for Norfolk State, which fell to 4-7. LeAire Nicks added 10 points for the Spartans. An announced crowd of 1,575 watched the game.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — Talayah Walker scored 20 points and Catherine Alben added 20 off the bench to lead Georgia Tech to a 72-57 victory over Norfolk State in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday night at Hank McCamish Pavilion. The Yellow Jackets used a dominant second quarter to seize control, outscoring the Spartans 28-12 in the period to turn a tight contest into a comfortable lead they would not relinquish. Georgia Tech improved to 4-6 on the season, while Norfolk State fell to 4-7. Walker, a guard from Odenton, Maryland, filled the stat sheet, playing all 40 minutes and adding five assists and four steals to her game-high point total. Her backcourt mate, Erica Moon of Atlanta, also played a key facilitating role with five assists. Alben, a guard from Snellville, Georgia, provided a critical spark, scoring her 20 points in just 27 minutes on the floor. Norfolk State was led by guard Jasha Clinton of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who matched Walker’s iron-woman effort by also playing the full 40 minutes and scoring 18 points with five assists. Forward LeAire Nicks of Des Moines, Iowa, contributed 10 points in 23 minutes. The game was closely contested through the opening quarter, with Georgia Tech holding a narrow 20-16 edge. The turning point came in the second period, as the Yellow Jackets’ defense stifled the Spartans and their offense found a rhythm. A 12-2 run midway through the quarter, fueled by transition baskets and forced turnovers, stretched a 24-22 lead to 36-24. Alben was instrumental in the surge, scoring nine points in the quarter, including a three-pointer and a driving layup that capped the run. Georgia Tech’s defensive pressure was a constant theme, generating 18 Norfolk State turnovers, which led to 22 points. The Yellow Jackets also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Spartans 42-28. Norfolk State showed resilience after halftime, trimming a 48-28 halftime deficit down to 13 points on several occasions in the third quarter. A three-pointer by Da’Brya Clark and a layup from Clinton made it 56-43 with 3:05 left in the period. Each time, however, Georgia Tech had an answer, often from Walker or Alben, to maintain a double-digit cushion. The Spartans made one final push early in the fourth quarter, using a 6-0 spurt to close within 62-51 with 8:12 remaining. Again, the Yellow Jackets responded, this time with a 6-0 run of their own, finished by a Catherine Alben layup off a Talayah Walker assist, to push the lead back to 17 and effectively seal the game. Beyond the leading scorers, Georgia Tech received balanced contributions. Savannah Samuel of Woodstock, Georgia, scored 11 points, and D’Asia Thomas-Harris of Katy, Texas, added 10 points and three blocks. Norfolk State’s Jenesis Hill of Virginia Beach scored seven points, and Ciara Bailey of Bristol, Pennsylvania, added seven points and three blocks. The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 1,575. Georgia Tech next travels to face West Virginia on Thursday. Norfolk State returns home to host Dillard on Thursday. The most important part of the game was Georgia Tech’s decisive 28-12 second quarter. That 10-minute stretch transformed a competitive four-point game into a 20-point halftime lead, establishing a margin that proved insurmountable for Norfolk State. The period showcased Georgia Tech’s defensive intensity, which created turnovers and easy scoring opportunities, and the offensive punch provided by Catherine Alben off the bench, which overwhelmed the Spartans and set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

Preview: Norfolk State Women Set to Visit Georgia Tech on Monday ATLANTA (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum will meet Monday when the Norfolk State Spartans visit the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a nonconference women’s basketball game at Hank McCamish Pavilion. Norfolk State (4-6) enters on a two-game winning streak following a 63-50 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday. The Spartans have found success recently after a challenging early schedule that included road losses to power-conference opponents Duke, Iowa State and Mississippi. The Spartans are led by guard Da’Brya Clark, who is coming off a dominant performance with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes against North Carolina A&T. Over her last three games, Clark is averaging 20 points per contest, providing a consistent offensive spark. Georgia Tech (3-6) looks to snap a five-game skid, most recently a 63-72 loss at Texas A&M on Dec. 3. The Yellow Jackets’ struggles have come against a tough slate, with four of their six losses coming against power-conference foes. Guard Savannah Samuel has been a key contributor for Georgia Tech, scoring in double figures in five of the last seven games. She tallied 11 points against Texas A&M and 14 in a narrow loss at Florida on Nov. 29. Both teams have faced defensive challenges this season. Norfolk State has allowed 83 points or more in three of its losses, while Georgia Tech has conceded an average of 74.2 points during its current losing streak. The game represents a final nonconference tune-up for Georgia Tech before Atlantic Coast Conference play begins in January. For Norfolk State, it is another opportunity to build confidence against an ACC opponent before continuing its road swing. Following Monday’s contest, Norfolk State will host Dillard on Thursday. Georgia Tech travels to face West Virginia on Thursday to begin a two-game road trip. Tipoff is set for Monday night in Atlanta.