Jan. 20, 2007
Atlanta – Georgia Tech (11-7, 2-3) will face their final SEC test of the season when they take on No. 14 Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-2) in the sixth-annual Russell Athletic Shootout Sunday, Jan. 21 at 3:00 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.
The Jackets are 0-and-2 this season when facing Southeastern Conference teams, falling to then eighth-ranked Georgia on Dec. 3, 2006, 69-59 and, dropping a Dec. 29 contest to Mississippi State, 62-56. Both losses were suffered on the Jackets’ home court, Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Georgia Tech is 5-and-46 all-time against members of the SEC, having only defeated Georgia, Vanderbilt and Florida. Tech’s last win over an SEC opponent was a Dec. 3, 2004 win over then sixth-ranked Georgia, which was also Tech’s last defeat of a ranked opponent.
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series with Georgia Tech, 3-to-2 with the last meeting on Jan. 9, 1982 resulting in an 80-74 Vanderbilt win.
Tech will face their fifth ranked opponent of the season Sunday, and fourth in 19 days when they take on No. 14 Vanderbilt. Aside from the Jacket loss to No. 8 Georgia, Tech has also suffered losses to No. 2 North Carolina, on Jan. 2 and Jan. 18 and top-ranked Duke on Jan. 10Tech is 7-87 all-time when facing ranked opponents.
Sunday’s game with the Commodores will be Tech’s first game played at a neutral site this season. While the Jackets are 41-and -46 in neutral sites, Georgia Tech head Coach MaChelle Joseph is 3-and-7 on neutral courts in her four seasons at the helm.
Senior guard Stephanie Higgs enters Sunday’s tilt as Tech’s leading scorer averaging 15.3 PPG and is grabbing 4.3 RPG. Higgs suffered from poor shooting in the bruising loss at North Carolina Thursday, totaling only four points for the Jackets.
Fellow top scorer and co-captain Chioma Nnamaka matched Higgs with only four points of her own, which was a season low for both guards.
Tech’s game with Vandy will follow a 12:30 tip off between Florida State (15-3, 4-0) and No. 16 Georgia (15-4, 3-2). The ACC-SEC double header will air on FOX Sports Net South.
Tickets to Sunday’s games can be purchased through Ticketmaster for $10 for both games and $15 at the door. Group rates, for parties of 10 or more, are $6 and can be purchased by calling 404-586-8505. All seats are general admission.
–GT–
