Georgia Tech women fall in first round

Staff Reports

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A double-double and 29 points from All-ACC First Team selection Talayah Walker was not enough to get Georgia Tech women’s basketball past Kansas State in the first round of the WBIT Thursday night, 69-65.

The Yellow Jackets (14-19, 8-10 ACC) battled back-and-forth with the Wildcats (19-17, 8-10 Big 12) in the first half and outscored the Big 12 semifinalist 25-22 in the third to even the score at 52 going into the fourth. K-State used an early run in the final 10 minutes to fend off a late rally from the resilient Jackets. 

Walker shot 12-for-14 from the free throw line, helping Tech to 80% from the free throw line on the night. She had a near double-double in the second half alone with 19 points and seven boards. Her final line of 29 points, 10 rebounds and two steals marked her fourth double-double of her sophomore season. 

2026 ACC All-Defensive Team honoree Brianna Turnage had 13 rebounds in Thursday’s contest, finishing with 360 on the season – good for second-most in Georgia Tech single-season history and the most since the record of 420 (Bonnie Tate – 1976-77). She also led Tech with three assists.  

Catherine Alben had 11 points including two key three’s to keep Tech within striking distance in the third quarter. Erica Moon, who has started every game for Tech at point guard after transferring from Texas A&M, finished with eight points. 

The Yellow Jackets out-rebounded K-State 41-29 and tied the ACC lead with their 14th game of 40 rebounds this season. Tech also tied Cal Baptist for the NCAA Division I lead with its 15th game of at least 30 defensive rebounds. 

The loss wraps up year one under head coach Karen Blair where the Jackets tallied 10 wins on home court and secured the first postseason berth in a head coach’s debut season in program history. Walker finished the season averaging 17.5 points per game and 576 points – the most by a Jacket since Aaliyah Whiteside in 2015-16 and sixth-most in program history.