THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team is brushing up on their Italian before embarking on a 12-day foreign tour of Italy. The Yellow Jackets will visit 10 cities and face four foreign opponents in exhibition games from Aug. 6-19.
“I am very thankful to our wonderful friends and boosters who have so generously given us the opportunity to go to Italy for our foreign tour next month,” commented head coach MaChelle Joseph. “It’s such a great educational opportunity for our student-athletes and a tremendous opportunity to develop our team in all facets as we head into 2017-18.”
The Yellow Jackets will experience first-hand the Italian culture and history visiting some of the most famous destinations in the country including San Marco Basilica in Venice and the Tower of Pisa. Also on the itinerary are stops at the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain in Rome, Vatican City, and visiting Pordenone, the hometown of senior guard Antonia Peresson.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
*The Yellow Jackets will depart from Atlanta and fly to Venice on August 6 – a trip of approximately 4,900 miles and a nine hour flight.
*After adjusting to the six hour time change (Italy is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time), the Jackets will spend their first full day in Venice visiting San Marco Basilica, San Marco Square and Rialto Bridge.
*The Jackets will begin and end their tour in Venice, while also visiting Pordenone (August 9-10), Bologna (August 12), Florence (August 12), Pisa (August 13), Monteriggioni (August 13), Montepulciano (August 13), Rome (August 14-16) and Padova (August 16). Tech will then return to Venice in the final days of the trip, playing two of its four games before departing on August 19.
*Tech’s first game will be against Orlovi Banja Luka (Bosnia) on Thursday, Aug. 10 in Pordenone.
*The Jackets will play game two the next day, Friday, Aug. 11, against a Bosnia Championship Selection team.
*Games three and four will take place in the final days of the tour: Thursday, Aug. 17 vs. Triglav (Slovenia) and Friday, Aug. 18 against Reyer. All four games will be held in Pordenone.
*The Jackets boast a roster featuring five international players, including two returners from Italy (Peresson and Francesca Pan) and newcomer Lorela Cubaj.
*Head coach MaChelle Joseph begins her 15th season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. Joseph led the Yellow Jackets on a foreign tour in 2013, visiting Barcelona, Paris and London.
Season tickets for 2017-18 women’s basketball season are currently on sale on RamblinWreck.com. To follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball overseas, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@GTWBB), Instagram (GTWBB), Facebook (Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.