Oct. 23, 2012
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THE FLATS – Georgia Tech announced Tuesday several special events that will take place around the women’s basketball team’s 2012-13 season-opening game against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers Nov. 11 at McCamish Pavilion.
Georgia Tech will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Yellow Jackets’ 1992 National Women’s Invitation Tournament title, the 40th anniversary of Title IX and the 60th anniversary of women at Georgia Tech. In addition, former Auburn head coach Nell Fortner will be launching her traveling women’s basketball pre-game show, “Nell on Wheels”, at McCamish Pavilion that day.
“We are very excited that our home opener against the University of Tennessee on Nov. 11 has become more than a game, it has become an event,” head coach MaChelle Josephsaid. “We are pleased that there has been so much interest generated in this matchup.
“We are looking forward to honoring and celebrating 60 years of women at Georgia Tech and 40 years of Title IX,” Joseph said. “We have some amazing women set to attend and help us celebrate these significant anniversaries nationally, at Tech and in our women’s basketball program.”
The day will tip-off with the launch of “Nell on Wheels,” a women’s college basketball traveling pre-game show. The on-site only show will originate from McCamish Pavilion prior to tip-off of the Yellow Jackets and Lady Vols.
Along with Fortner, Nell on Wheels will have current Indiana Fever assistant coach Mickie DeMoss and current Indiana Fever head coach Lin Dunn on hand to discuss women’s basketball. The panel will discuss the women’s game in general, the Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee game, sign autographs for fans and take questions from the crowd. Fortner hopes to announce the next destination that day.
“It is exciting that Nell Fortner is making this her first stop on her `Nell on Wheels’ tour,” Joseph added. “We believe this will add to the overall level of excitement for women’s college basketball game days.”
The 1992 NWIT title was Georgia Tech’s first postseason title. The Jackets defeated Green Bay (78-77), Nebraska (73-68) and Hawaii (90-72) on three consecutive days to win the tournament, the predecessor of the current WNIT, played in Amarillo, Texas.
Georgia Tech will recognize several women who played prominent roles in the advancement of women’s athletics since the inception of Title IX in 1972. Among those honored will be Lin Dunn, who has coached women’s basketball at the collegiate and professional level since 1972 and recently led the Indiana Fever to the 2012 WNBA title; Betty Jaynes, who served as the first Chief Executive Officer of the WBCA from 1982 until 2001; Michele Smith, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the United States’ softball team and Mickie DeMoss, former college assistant and head coach and current Indiana Fever assistant coach.
Georgia Tech athletics will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of women at Georgia Tech, an initiative started by Georgia Tech first lady Val Peterson. Among those that will be recognized are: Jeni Bogdan of the Saxon Group; Kelly Barrett, vice president of Home Depot; Kathie Day of Days Inn; Dr. Annie Anton, Chair of the School of Interactive Computing; Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, Dean of Morehouse School of Medicine; Susan Davis, Founder of Improve International; Lara Hodgson, Founder and owner of NOWACaccount Network; Susan Williams, principal of Booz-Allen Hamilton and Clemmie Whatley, Founder of Innovative Learning.
The Yellow Jackets will officially open the 2012-13 season with the NCAA `Pack The House’ game against perennial power Tennessee at 2 p.m. Nov. 11. Georgia Tech is hoping for the matchup with the Lady Vols to be the program’s first sellout. Season tickets, a three-game Sunday ticket package and single-game tickets are all now on sale at RamblinWreck.com.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter, @GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for an inside look at the program.
–RamblinWreck.com–
