ATLANTA (October 31) – The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team tips off the 2000-01 season with an exhibition game at 7 p.m. Friday against the Basketball Travelers, an international team, at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald’s Center. Admission for the Jackets’ first exhibition game of the year is free.
Saturday, fans will have the chance to meet both the Georgia Tech women’s and men’s basketball teams. Both Yellow Jacket squads will host intrasquad scrimmages beginning at 5 p.m. They will also sign autographs, give away prizes and pose for pictures with fans. One lucky fan will win two tickets to the NASCAR season finale, the NAPA 500, on Nov. 19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Tickets for this fun-filled event are $5 per person and all proceeds will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
With four starters and eight letterwinners returning from last year’s 17-13 squad, the Yellow Jackets are poised to build upon last season’s WNIT success.
Sophomore Niesha Butler returns to action after receiving a medical redshirt last year. The 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year was named one of 30 preseason Naismith Women’s Basketball Player of the Year candidates by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club and is a preseason All-ACC first team selection. She averaged 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game as a freshman.
Joining Butler will be a strong supporting cast, including four players who started at least 11 games last season. Sophomore Nina Barlin started every game at point guard as a freshman last year. Barlin averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in her first year of collegiate play.
Junior Milli Martinez started 15-straight contests last season after Butler was sidelined. The 5-8 guard averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and saw action in every contest.
In the frontcourt, senior Jamie Kruppa returns after leading last year’s squad in points (10.4 ppg) and rebounds (7.7 rpg). Fellow senior Regina Tate scored 6.7 points per game and was second on the squad with 6.8 rebounds per contest.
Sophomore Tamika Boatner was hampered by an injury much of last season, but will provide a presence in the paint for the Yellow Jackets this season. Boatner demonstrated her potential to dominate when Tech played in Australia last summer. The 6-2 center had two games with 19 rebounds in the 10-day tour.
Other players who will challenge for starting positions include sophomore guard Alex Stewart, who saw action in every game last season, center Sonja Mallory, at 6-4 the tallest player on the team, and freshman forward Fallon Stokes.
Georgia Tech hosts its final exhibition game on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 5:00 p.m. against Athletes in Action before beginning the season at home with the Atlanta Marriott Northwest Classic Nov. 24-25.
Important Dates
Nov. 3 — Exhibition: Basketball Travelers, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 — Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scrimmage, 5 p.m.
Nov. 9 — Exhibition: Athletes in Action, 5 p.m.
Nov. 24 — First regular-season game: Cornell, 2 p.m. in Atlanta Marriott Northwest Classic at O’Keefe Gymnasium
All events at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald’s Center except where noted.
