Oct. 16, 2012
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team was predicted to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference and junior guard Tyaunna Marshall was named to the pre-season All-ACC first team, announced at the league’s annual media day held at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C., today.
Third place is the highest the Yellow Jackets have ever been picked in the preseason poll.
Georgia Tech is coming off its best season in school history in which it won 26 games, 12 ACC games, finished tied for third in the ACC regular season standings, advanced to the program’s second ACC championship game, earned a berth in its first Sweet 16 and finished the year ranked No. 10.
In addition to the ACC Blue Ribbon Panel, the ACC coaches conducted a preseason poll and selected a pre-season coaches All-ACC team for the first time this year.
Duke was voted to win the league by both the coaches and the Blue Ribbon Panel, while defending ACC champion Maryland was picked second.
“I am very excited for our team and program that both the coaches and the media picked us to finish third in the ACC,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “Our program has evolved to a place where we expect success and are willing to work as hard as we have to exceed expectations. The ACC is without a doubt the premier conference in women’s basketball, and this year the parity in this conference is at a new level. Anyone can be beat anyone on any given night. We know what our goals are, and we are excited about the challenges ahead.”
Marshall is Georgia Tech’s leading returning scorer after averaging 14.4 points per game. Last season, Marshall was only one of two players in the ACC to rank in the ACC’s top 15 in scoring, rebounding and steals last season. The other was 2012 All-American Shenise Johnson of Miami.
In 2012, Marshall was named second-team All-ACC and in 2011 was selected third-team All-ACC and to the ACC All-Freshman team.
The Upper Marlboro, Md., native enters her junior season with 978 career points and will likely become the 26th Yellow Jacket with 1,000 career points and only the 10th Jacket to score 1,000 points before her senior season. Marshall has scored in double digits 54 times in 70 games and has tossed in at least 20 points 14 times.
“Ty Marshall is one of the top five players in the ACC,” Joseph added. “She has been consistent in this league for two years. She has shown night in and night out that she is a factor in this conference. I am excited to see how she leads our young team this year.”
Reigning ACC Player of the Year, junior Alyssa Thomas of Maryland, was tabbed as the Pre-season Player of the Year by the Blue Ribbon Panel. Thomas, along with sophomore Elizabeth Williams and junior Chelsea Gray, both of Duke, were selected in three-way tie for Pre-season Player of the Year by the coaches.
Georgia Tech will host the inaugural Jacket Jam on Sunday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. at McCamish Pavilion. The event will be an interactive fan day and introduce both MaChelle Joseph’s women’s team and Brian Gregory’s men’s team. An autograph session will follow the two scrimmages.
The Yellow Jackets will officially open the 2012-13 season with the NCAA `Pack The House’ game against perennial power Tennessee at 2 p.m. Nov. 11. Georgia Tech is hoping for the matchup with the Lady Vols to be the program’s first sellout. Season tickets, a three-game Sunday ticket package and single-game tickets are all now on sale at RamblinWreck.com.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter, @GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for an inside look at the program.
Coaches Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses)
1. Duke (9)
2. Maryland (3)
3. Georgia Tech
4. North Carolina
5. Miami
6. Florida State
7. Virginia
8. NC State
9. Wake Forest
10. Clemson
11. Virginia Tech
12. Boston College
Preseason Coaches All-ACC Team
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland
Elizabeth Williams, Duke
Chelsea Gray, Duke
Tyaunna Marshall, Georgia Tech
Natasha Howard, Florida State
Tianna Hawkins, Maryland
Laurin Mincy, Maryland
Ataira Franklin, Virginia
Marissa Kastanek, NC State
Stefanie Yderstrom, Miami
Preseason Coaches Players of the Year
3-way tie
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland
Elizabeth Williams, Duke
Chelsea Gray, Duke
Preseason Coaches Newcomer Watch List
Alexis Jones, Duke
Malina Howard, Maryland
Jonquel Jones, Clemson
Xylina McDaniel, North Carolina
Uju Ugoka, Virginia Tech
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason Poll (first place votes in parnetheses)
1. Duke (29)
2. Maryland (18)
3. Georgia Tech
4. Virginia
5. North Carolina
6. Miami
7. Florida State
8. NC State
9. Wake Forest
10. Clemson
11. Virginia Tech
12. Boston College
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland
Elizabeth Williams, Duke
Chelsea Gray, Duke
Tyaunna Marshall, Georgia Tech
Natasha Howard, Florida State
Tianna Hawkins, Maryland
Laurin Mincy, Maryland
Ataira Franklin, Virginia
Marissa Kastanek, NC State
Stefanie Yderstrom, Miami
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason Player of the Year
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland
Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List
Alexis Jones, Duke
Malina Howard, Maryland
Jonquel Jones, Clemson
Xylina McDaniel, North Carolina
Uju Ugoka, Virginia Tech
–RamblinWreck.com–
