Nov. 10, 2011
Yellow Jackets Open 2011-12 Season Against Alabama State
The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team will open its quest for a sixth straight 20 win season and sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth when it opens the 2011-12 season against Alabama State on Friday, Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Head Coach MaChelle Joseph will look to five seniors to lead a squad coming off a school-record 24 wins in 2010-11, but she will have to replace the graduated Alex Montgomery and Deja Foster. Joseph also added the 21st ranked recruiting class to her lineup this season and has back sophomore Tyaunna Marshall who earned All-ACC Third Team and ACC All-Freshman Team honors in 2011.
The Yellow Jackets have faced Alabama State once previously, a 76-46 Tech win on Dec. 30, 2005, in the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Marriott NW Holiday Invitational. Current assistant coach Janie Mitchell led the Jackets in that contest with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
As Georgia Tech transforms Alexander Memorial Coliseum into McCamish Pavilion for the 2012-13 season, the Yellow Jackets will play 12 of 13 home games this year at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Season Opening Success: The Yellow Jackets are 27-10 (.730) all-time on opening day. Georgia Tech is 20-4 since 1978-79 when opening the season at home. In head coach MaChelle Joseph’s eight years, Tech is 8-0 in season openers and 6-0 in openers at home.
On This Date: Georgia Tech has never played on November 11 before. November 11 is the third earliest date on which the Jackets have opened the season (Nov. 9, 2007 against Davidson; Nov. 10, 2006 against Mercer).
2010-11 Opener: In last year’s season opener, Tech defeated Georgia State 66-56. Freshman Tyaunna Marshall made an impressive debut, scoring a game-high 18 points and leading three Yellow Jackets in double figures. Her 18 points were the most by a freshman in her first collegiate game during Joseph’s tenure at Tech.
Tech Against SWAC: Georgia Tech owns a 12-2 (.857) all-time record against opponents from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Tech is 1-0 all-time against Alabama State, which came on Dec. 30, 2005. Joseph is 11-0 as a head coach against the SWAC.
First Time Foes: Georgia Tech will face five opponents for the first time in 2011-12 (Central Arkansas, Marquette, North Carolina A&T, Rutgers and SIU-Edwardsville). Last season, Tech played nine opponents for the first time and went 7-2. The opponents: Bowling Green (W), Georgetown (L), Jacksonville State (W), Middle Tennessee State (W), Missouri (W), Ohio State (L), Portland State (W), Prairie View A&M (W) and Washington (W).
Home Sweet Home: Georgia Tech owns a 95-27 (.779) home record under Joseph. Last season, the Yellow Jackets went 14-3 in home contests and tied the school mark for home wins in season.
