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No. 22 Georgia Tech routs Savannah State

Jan 22, 2010 - 3:22 AM ATLANTA(AP) -- Despite a miserable first half, Georgia Tech is still perfect at home. The Yellow Jackets are going to have to get off to better starts to win on the road in the ACC

Brigitte Ardossi scored 12 points and No. 22 Georgia Tech forced Savannah State into 34 turnovers during an 80-51 rout Thursday night.

"We didn't come out to play," said Deja Fosters, who added 11 points. "We got a good talking to at halftime."

Chelsea Regins scored 10 for the Yellow Jackets (16-4), who shot just 21.2 percent in the first half before hitting half their shots in the second half.

"We didn't come out to play," Fosters said. "We got a good talking to at halftime."

Georgia Tech made just one of its first 15 shots and needed an 8-0 run at the end of the first half to lead 30-26 at intermission. But the Yellow Jackets outscored Savannah State 24-10 in the first eight minutes of the second half and kept pulling away to hand the Tigers (8-15) their 11th straight loss.

"We shot 50 percent in the second half because of our defense," Georgia Tech coach Machelle Joseph said.

Courtney Long had 15 points and Crissa Jackson scored 14 for Savannah State. Reynetta Phillips, a 6-foot-7 freshman, had four blocks in the first half before getting into foul trouble.

The victory was the ninth without a loss at home for Georgia Tech this season. The Yellow Jackets are 78-12 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Joseph's seven seasons as coach.

But Georgia Tech returns to conference play on Sunday at No. 25 Virginia with two road losses in the ACC compared to two wins at home.

The Yellow Jackets lost to No. 14 North Carolina in their opener and to Boston College on Sunday, both times getting off to awful starts.

"We have to have great starts and great finishes," Foster said. "In the ACC, you have to play all 40 minutes."