BIMINI, Bahamas – The University of Dayton women's basketball team led late in the contest, but were unable to match Georgia Tech University in the Junkanoo Jam opener, falling 81-68.

The Flyers (2-3) faced off against the Yellow Jackets (5-0) for the first time in program history, but were unable to get the win in the Bahamas.

GAME BREAKDOWN
1^st Quarter – Dayton 12, Georgia Tech 20
Georgia Tech jumped out to an early 10-3 lead by the first media timeout. The Flyers' first field goal came in the last minute of the first quarter on a Kelley Austria three-pointer. Prior to that, UD had only shot free throws, going 9-of-14 from the penalty stripe. The Yellow Jackets committed 11 fouls in the opening 10 minutes. Georgia Tech led throughout the quarter.

2^nd Quarter – Dayton 33, Georgia Tech 32
The Flyers cut the deficit to six at 22-16 in the first minute and a half of the second quarter. The Jackets answered though and went on another run, forcing a Dayton timeout with the score at 31-18. An Austria three and a contested put back by senior Saicha Grant-Allen cut the margin to eight at 31-23. The Flyers got within two on free throws by freshman Jayla Scaife and redshirt junior Alex Harris, 32-30. Austria ended the half with a basket and free throw, capping off a 9-0 run. Dayton went to the locker room with a 33-32 lead.

3^rd Quarter – Dayton 54, Georgia Tech 52
The Flyers came out firing on all cylinders in the start of the second half with a three by sophomore Lauren Cannatelli and baskets by Scaife and redshirt junior JaVonna Layfield. That forced a Tech timeout with Dayton having its biggest lead of the game at 40-34. Going into the media timeout, the Flyers held a 46-37 advantage after a clutch basket-and-foul play by Cannatelli. The Jackets pulled back within two at 52-50 with a minute to go in the third.

4^th Quarter – Dayton 68, Georgia Tech 81
Georgia Tech pushed the tempo in the fourth and drew fouls, sending the Jackets to the free throw line. Six straight conversions from the charity stripe put the Flyers down by three at 61-58. Austria converted a basket and a free throw to tie the game back up at 63-63. The score went back and forth for the three minutes before the Jackets started pulling away and led 73-66 before a Flyer timeout. In the end, free throws added to the margin for GT as Dayton fell 81-68
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dayton outscored Georgia Tech 21-12 in the second quarter including a 9-0 run over the final two minutes to take its first lead of the game going into the break.
• After the called Dayton timeout in the second quarter, the Flyers went on a 15-1 run.
• Austria led the Flyers with a career-high 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
• Harris chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds while Layfield had eight rebounds and Grant-Allen had seven.
• Cannatelli and Scaife added nine points each.
• Georgia Tech's Francesca Pan led all scorers with 25 points and hit four three's.
• UD shot 31.1% from the floor, 22.7% from three-point range, and 78.1% from the free throw line.
• The Flyers were out-rebounded 44-32.

KEY STAT

• There were 60 fouls in the game, 32 by the Jackets and 28 by the Flyers. Three players fouled out in the contest. Between the two teams, there were 75 free throws shot.

UP NEXT

• The Flyers will play Creighton Saturday at 4:15 p.m. ET.