Dec. 23, 2003
– Game No. 10: Russell Athletic Shootout
Georgia Tech (7-2) vs. No. 11/12 Georgia (7-2)
December 27, 2003 * 2:30 p.m. * Philips Arena * Atlanta, Ga.
Television: Fox Sports Net South, Comcast Sports Net, Sunshine Network
Radio: WREK-FM 91.1 (Tech Broadcast) * WGMG-FM 102.1 (Georgia Broadcast)
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Jackets Face Georgia in Russell Athletic Shootout
Georgia Tech returns home from the Christmas break to face arch-rival Georgia in the Russell Athletic Shootout Saturday, December 27 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga. The game will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Louisiana State-Florida State contest, which is set to begin at 12 noon, and be broadcast on the Regional Sports Network-Fox Sports Net South, Comcast Sports Net, and the Sunshine Network in Florida. Georgia Tech will broadcast the game on the Jackets’ student station, WREK-Radio, 91.1 FM in Atlanta, and online at www.wrek.org, with Richard Musterer calling the play-by-play and Kurt Hoyt providing the color analysis. The game can also be heard on WGMG-FM 102.1; play-by-play announcer Jeff Dantzler will be joined by analyst Mack Poss on the Bulldogs’ broadcast. Livestats for the game can be found at www.ramblinwreck.com and at georgiadogs.com
Series Notes
Georgia Tech defeated the Lady Bulldogs for the first time in history last year and looks to build upon that victory this season. The Jackets used a second-half comeback to earn a 65-61 victory over the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs on December 27, 2002 to end their longest losing streak against any opponent. Tech had not beaten its in-state rival in 24 previous meetings, with a 78-77 loss on January 16, 1980, being the closest game in the series. The win not only ended the Jackets’ losing streak against the Bulldogs, but also ended Georgia’s 54-game winning streak versus other colleges and universities in the Peach State. Before last year’s loss to the Jackets, the last time the Bulldogs had lost a game to a team from the state was a 79-77 overtime loss to Georgia State in 1981. Georgia Tech has now one its last five games to opponents in the state, including a 69-64 win at cross-town rival Georgia State earlier this season. This will mark the 26th time in history that these two teams have squared off on the hardwood as Georgia holds the series lead, 24-1. The Yellow Jackets vs. The Southeastern Conference
Georgia Tech has not fared well against SEC opponents, as its not just the Bulldogs that the Jackets have struggled against. Tech owns a 4-40 record against Southeastern Conference; the only teams that the Jackets have recorded a win against are Georgia (1-24), Florida (1-0), and Vanderbilt (2-3). Excluding Georgia, which is an every-year opponent, the last time that Tech faced an SEC opponent was in 2001 when the Jackets faced Mississippi State in the National Women’s Invitational Tournament, with MSU winning the contest, 77-73. The last time that Tech faced a Southeastern Conference team, aside from Georgia, was in December, 1997, against 20th-ranked Auburn, with the Tigers winning, 70-41. Interesting fact about that game: current Georgia Tech head coach was in her second year as an assistant coach at Auburn that year. Saturday’s game against Georgia will mark the 26th meeting between the Jackets and Bulldogs and 45th contest against an SEC opponent for Georgia Tech.
Last Time Out for Tech
The Yellow Jackets pulled out a close 67-66 victory over Princeton Sunday afternoon when Alex Stewart hit two free throws with no time remaining on the clock to give Georgia Tech the win. The senior from Norcross, Ga., was fouled driving the lane and put away the free throws to give the Jackets their seventh win of the year at Jadwick Gym in Princeton, NJ. The Jackets received the ball with 7.2 seconds remaining underneath the Tigers’ basket; Megan Isom drove the length of the court after Stewart was covered on the inbounds, but was stopped at the three-point line on double coverage. She passed to Stewart, who had raced down the court, and Stewart went in for the layup. After she hit the first free throw to tie the game at 66-66, the Princeton coach called a timeout to stall. Stewart wasn’t bothered, however, and converted on her second to give the Jackets the win. On the season, she has hit 27-of-38 from the charity stripe. The Tigers hit 12 three-pointers in the game, which was a season-high for Tech opponents on the season. The Jackets shot 45.8% from the field, the highest percentage since they hit on 51.9% against Southwest Missouri State at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas. The Jackets were down 62-66 with 40 seconds left in the contest when Isom connected on a three-pointer, her third of the game. The Tech defense then wrapped up the Tigers on their end of the court, forcing a shot-clock violation to give the ball back to the Jackets for the winning drive down the court. Fallon Stokes led all Tech scorers with 15 points, including 13 in the second half, while Isom and Kasha Terry added 11. Stokes and Stewart also added six rebounds for the Jackets in the contest.
A Look at the Bulldogs
The ninth-ranked Bulldogs traveled to Austin to face fifth-ranked Texas a week ago and lost on the Longhorns’ home court by a 71-58 score. The Bulldogs were ahead by three at the half, but were outscored 37-21 following the break, dropping their second game of the season. Christi Thomas and Kara Braxton led the Dogs in scoring, with 14 points apiece, while Alexis Kendrick and Sherill Baker chipped in nine and eight points, respectively. Both Thomas and Braxton recorded double-doubles in the game, as Thomas pulled down 13 rebounds while Braxton had 11. Kendrick dished out five assists in the contest, while Baker added four while recorded five steals. Georgia’s only losses on the season have come at the hands of ranked opponents, as the first loss of the season was to No. 6 Stanford at the end of November. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 653-509, have outrebounded their opponents by more than six per game, have created almost 20 fewer turnovers while recording 29 more steals, and have blocked 21 more shots.
Lady Bulldogs Threats: Kara Braxton: 16.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, .538 FG%, 10 blocks, 13 steals; Christi Thomas: 11.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .488 FG%, 18 blocks; Sherill Baker: 10.7 ppg, .500 3FG%; .453 FG%, 27 assists, 37 steals; Alexis Kendrick: 9.3 ppg, .800 FT%, .343 3FG%, 40 assists, 11 steals.
