North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Opens ACC Play Against Georgia Tech
12/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Yellow Jackets come to Raleigh tonight with hopes of a third straight win over the Wolfpack Women and a third consecutive win in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State is looking for a little payback after Georgia Tech upset the Pack in the first round of the ACC Tournament a year ago. Tonight's game will be the first ACC contest of the season for both teams.
The Wolfpack:
Despite some key injuries, NC State continues to play well
and are currently ranked 19th in the USA Today Coaches poll and 21st in
the Associated Press poll with a 5-1 record. The Pack are without its
top returning scorerand rebounder in Kaayla Chones and its starting point
guard Terah James who are out until the first of the year with knee
injuries. Amy Simpson, who missed the first five games of the season with
a knee injury has been cleared to play by team doctors.
The Opponent:
Georgia Tech enter's tonight's contest with a 3-1 record.
The Yellow Jackets return four starters from last year's 17-14 squad.
Georgia Tech also regains the services of Niesha Butler, the 1999 ACC
Rookie of the Year, who was redshirted last year after suffering a
season-ended ACL injury in the Nov. 30, 1999 game against NC State. Milli
Martinez leads the Jackets with 16.5 points per contest.
Georgia Tech has five players averaging double figures, while the
Wolfpack only has two. The Yellow Jackets rank second in the ACC in
scoring offense, while NC State is last. However, the Pack boast the
league's best scoring defense while Tech is last.
Probable Starters: NC State G - 14 Daphne Hutcherson (5-8, junior,3.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg) G - 20 Tynesha Lewis (5-10, senior, 12.0ppg, 3.4 rpg) C - 44 Carisse Moody (6-1, sophomore 14.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg) F - 25 Monica Bates (6-2, senior, 5.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg) F - 45 Talisha Scates (6-1, junior, 3.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg) Georgia Tech G - 31 Milli Martinez ( 5-8, junior, 16.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) G - 11 Niesha Butler (5-8, sophomore, 14.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg) C - 20 Tamika Boatner (6-2, sophomore, 13.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg) F - 2 Nina Barlin (5-9,sophomore, 5.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg) F - 32 Jamie Kruppa (6-1, senior, 7.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
The Series:
NC State leads the all-time series against Georgia Tech
33-11. However, the Yellow Jackets have won the previous two meeting
between these squads. Tech upset NC State in the first round of the ACC
Tournament 71-62 last March in Greensboro. A week prior to that, the
Yellow Jackets spoiled Senior Day in Raleigh by defeating the Wolfpack
69-52. NC State won the first matchup of last season with a 80-70 win in
Atlanta.
NC State is 16-4 in games played in Reynolds Coliseum against Georgia Tech. But the Yellow Jackets have won the last two matchups in Raleigh.
The Coaches:
Head Coach Kay Yow, in her 26th season on the Wolfpack
bench, is just six wins shy of her 600th career victory. She has a
537-224 record at NC State and a 594-242 overall collegiate coaching
mark. One of the most successful coaches in the country, she currently
ranks fifth in career wins.
Georgia Tech is coached by Agnus Berenato who is in her 12th season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets with a 177-170 record. She owns a 237-225 career mark in 16 years as a collegiate coach.
Last Time Out:
NC State edged South Carolina 55-48 in Columbia on Monday
night in an ACC/SEC matchup. Tynesha Lewis led the Wolfpack with 21
points, six rebounds and four assists. The Wolfpack overcame a season-low
36 percent shooting from the floor by forcing 27 Gamecock turnovers.
Georgia Tech lost to SEC member Mississippi State 88-68 on Sunday. Milli
Martiniz led the Jackets with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Up Next:
The Wolfpack Women will travel to Austin, Texas to face #8
Texas Tech in the Secret Four in the Fall Classic hosted by the
University of Texas. NC State and Texas Tech will tip-off at 3:30 p.m.
EST followed by the second game of the doubleheader which matches up
Texas and Oregon. Both games will be nationally televised by the FOX
Sports Network.
