Dec. 4, 2001
ATLANTA — The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team will look to return to the win column on Wednesday, when it opens Atlantic Coast Conference play against Florida State at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in a game that will tip off at 7:05 p.m.
The Yellow Jackets broke even during last weekend’s trip to Greenville, N.C., to compete in the U.S. Cellular Classic, recording a 77-52 win over Arkansas State in the opening round, before falling to Southern by a 56-47 score in the championship game. Tech placed three players on the all-tournament team, including Sonja Mallory, Milli Martinez and Nina B?rlin. Mallory was Tech’s leading scorer in both games, as she netted 32 points on the weekend, while grabbing 22 rebounds. Included in the weekend, was a 15-rebound outing against Southern, which matched Mallory’s career best. She now leads the team and the ACC with 9.2 rebounds per contest.
B?rlin continued her strong play at the point guard position, as she recorded an outstanding 25 assists in the two games. The junior had a career-best 14 helpers against Arkansas State and then followed that with 11 against Southern. She now has had 10 or more assists in three-straight games, the longest such streak in school history.
Martinez found the scoring output that she was missing over the weekend, as she finished the two games with 28 points to go along with four assists and 10 rebounds.
Wednesday’s meeting between Tech and FSU will mark the 24th time the two schools have locked up in their history, with the Seminoles holding a slight 12-11 lead in the all-time ledger. The ‘Noles have had the edge in recent years, winning the last four meetings, including a 66-65 win in Atlanta and an 89-69 victory in Tallahassee during the 2001 season. This will also be the third time that FSU has been the ACC opener for Tech, with the Jackets having a perfect 2-0 record in the previous match-ups.
Georgia Tech currently leads the ACC in seven team statistical categories, including scoring defense, as the Jackets are allowing opponents an average of just 53.8 points per game. The Yellow Jackets also have three individual players sitting atop ACC statistical categories, including senior Regina Tate who is the conference leader in field goal percentage (.588), while Mallory leads in rebounding at 9.2 boards per game and B?rlin leads the ACC in assists (8.5) and assist/turnover ratio (3.19).
