May 16, 2013
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team will host the Illinois Fighting Illini in the 2013 Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at McCamish Pavilion, the two conferences announced Thursday.
Last season, ACC teams went 7-5 against the Big Ten to win its fifth Challenge in the six year history of the event. Georgia Tech is 5-1 all-time in the Challenge with its first loss coming last year at No. 14/13 Purdue. The Yellow Jackets have won the only previous meeting with Illinois, a 70-60 Tech victory Nov. 25, 1995 at O’Keefe Gym in Atlanta.
“We are excited to be a part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge again this year,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “Illinois is a great match-up for us and we look forward to being able to host the Fighting Illini in McCamish Pavilion on December 4.”
Georgia Tech has previously hosted Nebraska, Northwestern and Michigan State in the series. The Jackets defeated the Cornhuskers 73-57 in 2011, beat the Wildcats 67-63 in 2010 and topped the Spartans 70-57 in 2008.
Georgia Tech returns 10 letterwinners from last year’s team, led by rising senior and 2013 honorable mention All-American Tyaunna Marshall. Marshall was a first team All-ACC selection as a junior after averaging 18.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game. The Yellow Jackets return 74 percent of their scoring and 73 percent of rebounding from last season.
Illinois finished last season 19-14 overall and 9-7 in the Big Ten. In last year’s Challenge, the Illini defeated Wake Forest 95-82 in Champaign-Urbana. The Illini advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2013 Women’s NIT before falling 66-48 at Kansas State.
The Illini are 3-3 all-time in the Challenge with last year’s win over Wake Forest, a 61-50 win at Clemson in 2011 and a 65-50 win over Wake Forest in 2009 in Winston-Salem.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter and Instagram, @GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for an inside look at the program.
2013 CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, December 4
Notre Dame at Penn State
Illinois at Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech at Indiana
Michigan State at Florida State
Thursday, December 5
NC State at Northwestern
Boston College at Wisconsin
Syracuse at Iowa
Purdue at Duke
Ohio State at Maryland
Nebraska at North Carolina
Michigan at Virginia
Miami at Minnesota
–RamblinWreck.com–
