Deja Kelly hits clinching free throws, scores 27 as No. 23 North Carolina women beat Georgia Tech
Posted January 21, 2024 6:06 p.m. EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Deja Kelly scored 27 points, including six free throws in the last 22.5 seconds, and No. 23 North Carolina held off Georgia Tech 73-68 on Thursday night.
The Tar Heels were up 65-51 after Teonni Key hit a jumper with 5 1/2 minutes to go but that was the last basket for North Carolina and last points that weren't scored by Kelly.
The Yellow Jackets scored seven straight, including a 3-pointer by Rusne Augustinaite. After Kelly made two of four free throws sandwich around a jumper by Tech's Ines Noguero, Augustinaite had a four-point play to pull the Yellow Jackets within 67-64 with 29 seconds left.
From there, Kelly iced the game from the foul line.
Alyssa Ustby scored 15 points for North Carolina (13-5, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Key had a season-high 10 on 5-of-6 shooting.
Tonie Morgan had 15 points and nine assists for Georgia Tech (12-6, 3-3), which was without coach Nell Fortner, who was ill. Associated head coach Blanche Alverson ran the team. Kara Dunn scored 14 points and Augustinaite and Ariadna Termis, both freshmen reserves, had 11 apiece.
Kelly had North Carolina's first nine points and the Tar Heels led 17-11 after one quarter. They got the lead to 10 in the second quarter but a 12-2 run gave Georgia Tech the lead before the Tar Heels took a 30-28 lead into the half.
Kelly had a pair of 3-pointers and 10 points in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 54-46. Kelly has 77 points in her last three games.
No. 13 Louisville is at North Carolina on Sunday for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Boston College is at Georgia Tech on Sunday.
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