Nov. 15, 2001
ATLANTA — The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team will open its 2001-02 campaign on Friday night when it hosts the Wildcats of Kansas State beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
The game will be the first half of a women’s/men’s doubleheader, as the Georgia Tech men’s team will also open its 2001-02 season with a match-up against Florida A&M following the women’s contest. Tech’s women’s game will be broadcast live on 91.1 WREK-FM in Atlanta, and can be heard around the world at the Yellow Jackets’ official website, www.ramblinwreck.com.
The Yellow Jackets began preparations for the upcoming season in grand style, as they recorded a pair of impressive exhibition wins in the preseason, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 200-94. Senior guard Milli Martinez picked up the new year right where she left off in 2001, as she was Tech’s leading scorer in the preseason, averaging 16.5 points, while adding 5.5 rebounds and shooting an outstanding 14-20 (.700) from the floor.
Four other Tech players averaged in double figures in the two tune-ups, including junior center Sonja Mallory, who averaged 15.5 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per contest. Senior forward Regina Tate made her return to action after missing last year with a leg injury and joined sophomore Fallon Stokes with a scoring average of 11.0 points per game.
Junior Nina B?rlin also chipped in 10.5 points and dished out 6.5 assists per contest.
Although not ranked in the preseason, the Jackets opened the year by receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA coaches poll. Tech was also picked to finish seventh in the conference by the Atlantic Coast Conference media on November 4 at the league’s annual women’s basketball media day.
Friday night’s game will be the first-ever meeting between the Yellow Jackets and Wildcats and will mark the first time in the program’s history that Tech has faced a team from the state of Kansas. Tech holds a perfect 2-0 record in games against teams from the Big 12, including wins over Colorado (1994-95) and Nebraska (1991-92).
The Wildcats will also be opening their 2001-02 season and are looking to improve on a 12-16 record from a year ago. Kansas State matched the Yellow Jackets by recording a perfect 2-0 record in the preseason, winning the two games by a combined 68 points. Sophomore forward Nicole Ohlde is the leading returnee for the Wildcats as she was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2001 after leading KSU in scoring with a 17.2 average and in rebounds with 8.1 boards per game. Joining Ohlde in the lineup will be a talented group of newcomers, including redshirt freshman Laurie Koehn, who was voted the preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2001, before sitting out with and injury a year ago.
Tech will be looking for its 11th opening day win under head coach Agnus Berenato and will also be seeking the 19th victory in a season opener in the program’s history.
Georgia Tech (0-0)
vs.
Kansas State (0-0)
Game #1
Nov. 10, 2001
Alexander Memorial Coliseum (9,191)
Atlanta, Ga.
Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m.
Television: None
Radio: All Georgia Tech women’s basketball games can be heard on 91.1 FM WREK and online at www.ramblinwreck.com. Richard Musterer (play-by-play) and Kurt Hoyt (color analyst) call the action.
The Records: Friday’s game is the season opener for both teams. Tech finished last season with a 14-15 record, while Kansas State was 12-16.
The Rankings: Neither of the teams is currently ranked, but the Yellow Jackets received votes in the preseason ESPN/USA Today/WBCA coaches poll.
GT Coach Agnus Berenato: Berenato (Mt. St. Mary’s, ’80) is in her 14th season as the Tech head coach and is the Yellow Jackets’ all-time winningest coach with her 188-184 record.
KSU Coach Deb Patterson: Patterson (Rockford, ’79) is in her sixth season with the Wildcats and owns a 71-76 record in that time.
The Series: Tonight marks the first meeting between the two schools.
