ATLANTA -- A career night by Alex Montgomery helped No. 22 Georgia Tech take another step toward a historic season.
Montgomery had 20 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, and Brigitte Ardossi added 18 points in No. 22 Georgia Tech's 64-57 victory over struggling North Carolina on Friday night.
The Yellow Jackets (22-7, 8-5 ACC) had lost 15 of their last 16 to the Tar Heels (17-10, 5-8), including 89-78 earlier this season in Chapel Hill. In that game, Tech shot 4-of-20 on 3-pointers with 22 turnovers.
The win was Tech's 22nd, a regular-season best, and the victory clinched a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament next week in Greensboro.
"That's been our goal, trying to make history. It's a unique situation for this program," Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph said. "They worked hard."
The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Tar Heels 48-32 and hit 27 of 33 free throws while UNC made only 12 of 18.
"It really came down to rebounding. It was the difference in the game," said UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell, who then looked at the final stat sheet and a bit surprised, noted: "The difference in foul shooting was pretty dramatic, too."
Cetera DeGraffenreid had 25 points for UNC, which has lost seven of eight.
Sasha Goodlett gave Tech the lead for good at 56-55 with 1:36 left when she made one of two free throws.
A 3-point basket by DeGraffenreid with 28.2 seconds left got the Tar Heels to 59-57, but Tech made five of six free throws the rest of the way.
No. 22 Georgia Tech 64,
North Carolina 57
UNC (17-10): Shegog 3-6 0-0 6, Broomfield 4-9 1-2 9, DeGraffenreid 8-16 7-10 25, Ruffin-Pratt 2-5 0-0 4, Lucas 2-11 2-3 6, White 1-7 0-1 3, Bursey 0-2 0-0 0, M.Wood 0-0 0-0 0, Rolle 0-2 2-2 2, Robertson-Warren 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 21-59 12-18 57.
Georgia Tech (22-7): Ardossi 4-14 10-10 18, Blackmon 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Montgomery 6-14 7-7 20, Foster 4-6 3-4 11, Bennett 1-8 0-0 2, Walthour 0-2 6-10 6, Adams 0-0 0-0 0, Regins 0-2 0-0 0, Goodlett 3-9 1-2 7. Totals 18-56 27-33 64.
Halftime--Georgia Tech 27-24. 3-Point Goals--UNC 3-14 (DeGraffenreid 2-2, White 1-5, Bursey 0-1, Ruffin-Pratt 0-1, Lucas 0-5), Georgia Tech 1-7 (Montgomery 1-5, Walthour 0-1, Bennett 0-1). Rebounds--UNC 32 (Broomfield 8), Georgia Tech 48 (Montgomery 15). Assists--UNC 10 (DeGraffenreid, Lucas, White 3), Georgia Tech 13 (Walthour 5). Total Fouls--UNC 23, Georgia Tech 21.
A--1,642.
