May 29, 2013
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech women’s basketball will face conference rivals Clemson and Maryland in home-and-away games during the 2013-14 Atlantic Coast Conference season the conference announced Wednesday.
The Yellow Jackets will also host Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia and Boston College. Tech will go on the road to play Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech as well as ACC newcomers Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Notre Dame.
“As always, our ACC schedule will be one of the most challenging in women’s basketball,” Tech head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “With the expansion of the ACC and the competitiveness of this conference, it will without a doubt change the landscape of women’s basketball this season. I am excited to host some of the best teams in the country in Atlanta this season.”
Georgia Tech has played each of the three new ACC members only once all-time, with none of the three meetings coming on the road. The most recent meeting was a 75-72 overtime loss to Syracuse last season in the San Juan Shootout in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Yellow Jackets dropped a 75-69 decision to Pittsburgh on Dec. 30, 1999, in Atlanta, while the Irish bested Tech 76-69 on Nov. 29, 1996, also in Atlanta.
Georgia Tech returns 10 letterwinners from last year’s team, led by rising senior and 2013 honorable mention All-American Tyaunna Marshall. Marshall was a first team All-ACC selection as a junior after averaging 18.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game. The Yellow Jackets return 74 percent of their scoring and 73 percent of rebounding from last season.
The Yellow Jackets are ranked No. 23 in ESPN.com’s early look at 2013-14. The ESPN.com poll featured four other ACC teams, Duke, Maryland, Notre Dame and North Carolina.
The ACC was represented by six overall postseason squads, including five teams in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. The five teams in the tournament marked the 19th consecutive season at least four ACC teams were selected to the field. Overall, the ACC has made 14 Final Four appearances. The ACC earned a 115-57 (.669) mark against non-conference competition.
Including the new ACC members, seven teams reached the 20-win plateau, with two teams collecting 30-or-more wins during the 2012-13 season.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter and Instagram, @GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for an inside look at the program.
–RamblinWreck.com–
