March 5, 2014
The Ty Marshall Era heads into its final postseason this evening when Georgia Tech begins play in the ACC Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., The seventh-seeded Jackets will play either No. 10 Virginia or No. 15 Boston College –Tech beat both teams this season, 95-76 vs. UVA on Feb. 14, and 84-74 over B.C. on March 2, both at McCamish Pavilion.
Marshall, the 5-9 senior guard, who played so much bigger during her career, leads the Jackets into the weekend as the program’s all-time leading scorer and the first Yellow Jacket ever to crack the 2,000-point barrier. Her 2,066 points currently rank her 20th all-time in ACC history, only 13 points away from taking over 19th place.
She is going out on a high note as a senior, as she leads the team in points (546), rebounds (214), steals (74) and assists (90). Marshall was the first Georgia Tech woman to score at least 500 points in three consecutive seasons.
On Tuesday, she was recognized by the ACC, becoming only the fourth Jacket to earn All-ACC First-Team honors and the first to receive the honor twice in her career. Freshman guard Kaela Davis, also was named All-ACC, earning a place on the Second- and All-Freshman Teams.
“Ty Marshall is very deserving of being named First Team All-ACC for the second consecutive year,” said Head Coach MaChelle Joseph. “Ty has left her mark on the Georgia Tech women’s basketball program. She will leave our program as arguably the best player to ever play here.”
The Good Word talked with Marshall, who reflected on her four years at Tech, her future and that of the program.
THE GOOD WORD: Have you thought about this being your final ACC Tournament?
TY MARSHALL: Yeah, I’ve thought about it. I I’m just trying to play. It’s an emotional thing with time winding down but I’m excited. My teammates are having fun with it.
TGW: You’ve had so many great moments in you Georgia Tech career. Is there one that stands out?
TM: One of my favorite moments was the ACC Championship Game my final year, even though we lost, it was a very fun game. I also think about my first college game. I was nervous right before the game but it was fun being out there.
[Marshall scored a team-high 25, 18 in the second half, adding three rebounds, three assists and three steals but Georgia Tech lost a heartbreaker, 68-65, to Maryland. Tech would rebound in the NCAAs, reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. In her first collegiate game, Marshall scored a game-high 25, on 8-for-15 shooting, with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot in a 66-56 rout of Georgia State.]
TGW: You’ll leave Georgia Tech as the program’s leading scorer. Could you ever have imagined you would have the career that you’ve had?
TM: Obviously, I didn’t come to college thinking about being the leading scorer. I just came in wanting to play basketball. It means a lot. It’s unbelievable being able to come to a top-level conference like the ACC, and a school like Georgia Tech, with the players that have played here. It’s very humbling and I’m very honored to be the one to have done what I’ve done.
TGW: How special has this senior class been?
TM: It is definitely a special group. Me, [point guard] Dawnn [Maye] and [guard/forward] Frida [Fogdemark] came in together but also having [redshirt center] Shayla [Bivins] together with us for four years is great. Me and Dawnn have pretty much been attached at the hip since before we came to college. It’s just fun going out with these guys the way we’re going out.
TGW: You graduate in May. Have you thought about what’s next?
TM: The next option for me is definitely going to the WNBA. Right now I’m trying to focus on college but once it’s over I can focus more. But the WNBA is the next step.
TGW: You played with Alex Montgomery and Sasha Goodlett, both of whom were WNBA first-round picks. Have you talked with them yet about the League?
TM: I haven’t yet but I have plans on talking to them about all the stuff that comes with it and to be prepared for it. I haven’t yet, but I will definitely.
TGW: Where have you changed the most since coming to Georgia Tech?
TM: The biggest change is just being confident all the time in what I do in my decisions in being a leader and being a player. I’m not going to say I wasn’t confident but I’ve become more confident in the things that I do over four years.
TGW: Are you happy with the state of the program that you’re leaving?
TM: I have seen the highs and last year was, obviously, a rough year, but I’m happy with what I’ve done to help the team get back to where we want to be and the goals we want to accomplish. Right now we’re doing that. It’s just the start of getting us back to the NCAA Tournament. We’re not going to be satisfied until Selection Monday when our name is called.
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