Jan. 31, 2007
Atlanta – Georgia Tech (13-8, 4-3), off to their best Atlantic Coast Conference start in five years, puts their winning conference record on the line Thursday when they host the reigning National Champion and fourth-ranked Maryland Terrapins (21-2, 5-2) at 7 p.m. in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Maryland holds the series lead, 39-to-15, and hasn’t lost to the Jackets since Feb. 15, 2004 when they fell, 58-57 in the AMC. The Terps also holds the series lead in games played in the AMC, 13-to-11.
The 1992 No. 4/5 Terrapins became the highest ranked team to fall to the Jackets on March 7, 1992 when Tech defeated Maryland by one point in the ACC Tournament.
The scoring margin between the two teams is small in recent years, with last year’s two meetings being decided by eight points and five points. Maryland holds a 3-point margin of victory over the Jackets in the last 15 meetings that includes six Georgia Tech victories.
Stephanie Higgs, who is Tech’s leading scorer this season with 14.8 PPG, led all scorers in the last meeting with Maryland with 22 points and, also led in rebounding with eight on March 3, 2006 in the ACC Tournament.
In the regular-season contest on Jan. 26, 2006, Maryland escaped with a 79-71 win after Chioma Nnamaka, who is averaging 13.1 PPG this season, scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Tech’s four ACC wins this season is twice as many as they had all of last season and, puts the Jackets on pace to finish with a winning conference record for the first time in school history.
The Jackets are coming off back-to-back conference victories, downing Boston College on Jan. 25 by 11 and Wake Forest on Jan. 28 by 13, marking the first time this season Tech has won consecutive conference games.
Co-captain Janie Mitchell made her first start in six games Sunday at Wake Forest after sitting out four games and seeing limited playing time in two others with an MCL sprain. Mitchell led all scorers with 18 points and added a team-high seven rebounds to lift the Jackets over the Deacons, 58-45.
Thursday’s game between the Terrapins and the Yellow Jackets is “Gold and White Night” at the AMC and, any fan wearing gold or white will gain admission to the game for only $1. The first 100 fans in line will receive a Russell Athletic Georgia Tech replica jersey while Georgia Tech t-shirts will be given to fans seated nearest the court.
Tickets for the game, $4 for adults and $2 for children and senior citizens, can also be purchased by calling 888-TECH-TIX or at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Live game action will be broadcast on Georgia Tech ISP Network Wrek FM (91.1 FM) and on XM Radio on channel 191. Live webcast of the game is available at ACCSelect.com.
