Jordan Ode delivers a career performance as four Yellow Jackets reach double figures in Thursday night’s home victory.
Georgia Tech women’s basketball is off to a 2-0 start, and the Yellow Jackets are finding plenty of ways to make an early statement.
Tech handled Samford, 84-58, on Thursday night inside McCamish Pavilion, using a balanced scoring attack and a disruptive defensive performance to secure its second win of the season.
Four Yellow Jackets finished in double figures, led by a career night from Jordan Ode, who poured in 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. La’Nya Foster and Talayah Walker added 16 points apiece, while Erica Moon contributed 14.
The production went beyond the scoreboard. Ode added six rebounds and three assists, Foster collected a team-high eight rebounds, and Moon and Walker each recorded four steals. Foster also reached double figures for the second consecutive game.
After Samford briefly grabbed the lead early in the second quarter, Georgia Tech responded with an 11-2 run and took control. The Yellow Jackets never looked back, eventually stretching their advantage to as many as 20 points.
Defensive Pressure Changes the Game
Georgia Tech's defense was a major difference Thursday, particularly against a Samford team that entered the matchup fresh off a season-opening performance featuring 19 three-pointers.
The Bulldogs struggled to find that same rhythm against the Yellow Jackets, finishing just 5-of-24 from beyond the arc (20.8 percent). Tech was especially effective in the third quarter, limiting Samford to 1-of-9 shooting from three-point range.
The defensive effort helped Georgia Tech create separation after Samford's early second-quarter push. The Bulldogs took a 20-19 lead, but Foster quickly put the Yellow Jackets back in front.
Tech then turned up the pressure, forcing five turnovers in less than two and a half minutes. Seven consecutive free throws helped fuel an 11-2 run, and a late 7-0 burst sent the Yellow Jackets into halftime with a 41-31 advantage.
It was the kind of response that kept Samford from building on its brief momentum.
Ode Leads a Balanced Offensive Attack
Ode's career-high 18 points highlighted a night in which Georgia Tech consistently found scoring contributions throughout the lineup.
Moon opened the game with a three-pointer, and Foster followed with one of her own as Tech established an early advantage. Newcomer Sofia Muñoz also made an immediate impression, knocking down her first basket in a Yellow Jackets uniform from beyond the arc.
Inés Noguero contributed eight points and five rebounds, while the team also saw important firsts from several players. Leyre Urdiain recorded her first collegiate points, and Muñoz and Déborah Mukeba each scored their first points wearing a Georgia Tech uniform.
Ode continued to build her night after halftime. She connected from three-point range in the third quarter and later buried a buzzer-beater to close the period. That shot gave her a new career high of 14 points at the time and pushed Georgia Tech's lead to 63-43.
The Yellow Jackets also displayed impressive ball movement, finishing with 26 assists on 30 made field goals. Through two games, Tech is assisting on 79.7 percent of its made baskets, an early indication of how effectively the team is creating opportunities for one another.
Yellow Jackets Finish Strong
Georgia Tech carried its momentum into the fourth quarter, opening the period with a Moon three-pointer after Samford scored the first basket.
The Bulldogs briefly put together consecutive baskets to cut into the deficit, but the Yellow Jackets maintained control. Samford managed just one additional field goal over the final 5:30 as Tech continued to add points from Noguero, Foster, Ode and Mukeba.
Georgia Tech was particularly efficient during the final 10 minutes, shooting 64.3 percent from the floor and 66.7 percent from three-point range.
The defensive and offensive performances combined to deliver a convincing 26-point victory.
What the Win Means for Georgia Tech
The victory gives Georgia Tech its second straight win to open the season and continues a strong early trend under head coach Karen Blair.
The Yellow Jackets are now 7-0 under Blair when scoring at least 80 points and have opened a season 2-0 for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Tech also improved to 5-0 all-time against Samford.
The home-court numbers are just as notable. Georgia Tech is now 95-12 against nonconference opponents inside McCamish Pavilion and 12-6 at home under Blair.
Thursday's performance offered a glimpse of the team's early strengths: multiple scoring options, active defense and a willingness to share the basketball. With four players reaching double figures and several newcomers getting their first points in a Tech uniform, the Yellow Jackets are building contributions beyond a single leading scorer.
There is still plenty of basketball ahead, but a 2-0 start and a 26-point win provide a strong foundation heading into a more challenging matchup.
Up Next: No. 24 West Virginia Comes to McCamish
Georgia Tech will remain at home Sunday, Nov. 8, when it welcomes No. 24 West Virginia to McCamish Pavilion.
Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. The matchup will give the Yellow Jackets an early opportunity to test their momentum against nationally ranked competition.
