Matchups Announced for 2018 Cancun Challenge

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Georgia Tech women’s basketball will meet George Washington and Idaho State as part of the Riviera Division of the 2018 Women’s Cancun Challenge as announced by tournament officials Tuesday. In its 14th year, the Cancun Challenge will take place Nov. 22-24 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Six teams will compete in the Riviera Division, each playing two games apiece, while four teams will take part in the Mayan Division, playing a three-game round-robin. Tech will open the tournament on Thursday, Nov. 22 against George Washington at 4 p.m. and meet Idaho State on Friday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

GW posted a 19-14 record this past season and went 10-6 in Atlantic 10 Conference play, falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Ohio State. The Colonials will return a couple key players in Mei-Lyn Bautista, who averaged 8.1 points per game and led the team with 141 assists and Kelsi Mahoney, who averaged 8.5 ppg and shot 36 percent from 3-point range. Idaho State posted a 21-11 overall record in 2017-18 and went 11-7 against Big Sky opponents. The Bengals defeated Weber State 113-109 in overtime to reach the Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinals.

The Jackets are making their second trip to the Yucatan having previously taken part in the tournament in 2015. In its first appearance in the tournament, Tech went 1-1, falling to Northern Iowa, 61-58, before defeating High Point, 81-61.

Complete matchups (all times listed in EST)
Thursday, Nov. 22
Mayan Division
DePaul vs. Princeton, 11 a.m.
Syracuse vs. Kansas State, 1:30 p.m.

Riviera Division
Georgia Tech vs. George Washington, 4 p.m.
NC State vs. Michigan State, 6:30 p.m.
Kennesaw State vs. Idaho State, 9 p.m.