March 14, 2016
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball teamed earned an at-large bid to the 2016 Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The Yellow Jackets (19-12, 8-8 ACC) will host Mercer (24-8, 12-2 SoCon) in the first round at McCamish Pavilion on Thursday. The time of the game will be announced Tuesday.
“We are excited about the opportunity to play in the post season,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “Our seniors deserve to continue playing and this is a great experience for our 11 returners. We are playing really good basketball in March and look forward to our next matchup.”
This will be the 21st meeting between Georgia Tech and Mercer. The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series 14-6 and have won 13 of the past 14 meetings, including seven-straight. The last time the Yellow Jackets faced the Bears was on Dec. 28, 2010 when Tech won 101-44 at home.
Georgia Tech is making its second-straight appearance in the WNIT and its sixth appearance overall. In five appearances in the WNIT, the Jackets have gone 6-4, including advancing to the second round of the tournament last season. In 2015, Tech defeated Elon before falling to Ole Miss in the second round.
The Yellow Jackets won the 1992 NWIT at the Cal Farley Coliseum in Amarillo, Texas, knocking off Green Bay Wisconsin, Nebraska and Hawaii. This is the fourth time that Yellow Jackets will host a first round game in the WNIT. Tech hosted first round games in 2000, 2002 and 2015. The Jackets played in the WNIT/NWIT in 1992, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2015. This is the second time under Joseph that the Jackets will play in the WNIT.
Georgia Tech’s trip to the WNIT marks Joseph’s ninth appearance in the postseason in her 13 years as a head coach. Joseph, who is the all-time winningest coach at Georgia Tech, led the Jackets to seven NCAA Tournaments, including six-straight from the years of 2007-2012. The Yellow Jackets also played in 2014 NCAA Tournament. In 2012, the Jackets made school history under Joseph’s direction, advancing to the program’s first-ever Sweet 16. Joseph owns a 6-8 record in the post season and this is her second trip to the WNIT Tournament as a head coach.
Georgia Tech finished the 2015-16 season with a 19-12 record and went 8-8 in ACC play. The Yellow Jackets finished the season tied for seventh and advanced to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. This season, the Jackets were led by First Team All-ACC member and the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Georgia College Player of the Year, Aaliyah Whiteside. Whiteside led the ACC in scoring the entire year and is averaging 19.4 points per game which leads the league and is 36th in the NCAA. She also led the ACC in scoring in conference games with 18.9 points per game. Whiteside has recorded an ACC-high 17 20+ point games. Whiteside has scored in double figures in 29 of 31 games this season and has led the Yellow Jackets on the offensive end in 21 games.
Tickets are on sale now through the Georgia Tech ticket office and can be purchased by calling 1-888-TECH-TIX or through RamblinWreck.com. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors/youth and free for Georgia Tech students.
Fans are encouraged to park along Fowler Street, in the East O’Keefe lot or in the Family Housing parking deck, free of charge. The McCamish lot will be reserved parking only.
To follow the Jackets during the post season, follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter,@GTWBB, Instagram, GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook,GTWomensBasketball.
–TogetherWeSwarm–
