@GTWBB Hosts Alabama State in Mid-Week Matchup

Dec. 16, 2014

The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (6-4) welcomes Alabama State (3-4) for a mid-week matchup on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at McCamish Pavilion. 

#5THINGS
– Senior Sydney Wallace is 27 points away from becoming the 27th Jacket too score 1,000 points.
– Dating back to the 2012-13 season, Tech has won 15 out of its 18 home non-conference games. Tech’s loss to Georgia was its first nonconference home loss since Dec. 2, 2012 against UGA.
– Tech is just one of two ACC teams to have two scorers ranked in the top-15, joining UVA. Davis checks in at 4th (18.2 ppg) while Wallace is ranked 14th (14.2 ppg).
– Head coach MaChelle Joseph has a career record of 219-138, putting her just five wins away from becoming GT’s all-time winningest coach. She was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
– This will be the fourth meeting vs. Alabama State for Tech. The Jackets lead the series, 3-0.

a win would…
– Be the fourth-straight against Alabama State
– Be the 220h win of Coach Joseph’s career, putting her four wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in Georgia Tech history
– Give Georgia Tech its 595th program win, putting it five wins away from reaching the 600 win milestone
– Be the 17th overall win against a team from the SWAC Conference, putting Tech’s record at 17-2 against teams from the Southland.
– Give Tech a 5-1 record at home this season. 

Tech tidbits
– Tech’s four losses to teams receiving votes or ranked in top 25 polls
– In five wins, averaged 28.7 margin of victory
– Kaela Davis, Aaliyah Whiteside, Zaire O’Neil and Sydney Wallace are all averaging double-figures.
– The Jackets have won the rebounding battle in seven of their 10 games.
– The Jackets are averaging 84.8 points per game when playing at home this season.
– Dating back to the 2012-13 season, Tech has won 15 out of its 18 home non-conference games. Tech’s loss to Georgia was its first nonconference home loss since Dec. 2, 2012 against UGA.
– Georgia Tech is one of two ACC teams, joining UVA, to have two players ranked in the top-15 in scoring in the conference – Kaela Davis’ 18.4 ppg ranks fourth while Syndey Wallace’s 14.2 ppg rank 14th.
– Tech only committed seven fouls against Central Arkansas, which ties for the third-least amont of fouls committed in a game in Georgia Tech history. They only sent UCA to the foul line once the entire game. 

by the numbers
An inside look at the statistical differences in the Yellow Jackets’ wins and losses:
– In wins, Tech is averaging 88.3 ppg. In losses, the Jackets have averaged 62.2 ppg.
– In wins, Tech allows only 59.7 ppg. In losses, opponents have tallied 71.5 ppg.
– In wins, opponents are shooting only 36.7 percent from the field. In losses, opponents are shooting at 46.4 percent.
– In wins, Tech is out-rebounding opponents by 19.5 boards per game. In losses, Tech is out-rebounded by opponents by 4.7 rebounds per game.
– In wins, Tech is averaging 20 free throw attempts per game. In losses, the Jackets are only getting 15 attempts from the stripe.
– In wins, Davis is averaging 19.0 ppg and Wallace is averaging 14.2 ppg. Davis averages 17.0 ppg and Wallace averages 14.3 ppg in losses.

going hard in the paint
The Yellow Jackets are averaging 31.8 points per game in the paint, which is 40 percent of their overal points average (77.9). Tech outscored Central Akransas, 54-12, in the paint. The Jackets have a defensive rebound percentage of 71.1 percent )7th in the ACC) and and offensive rebound percentage of 43.3 percent (3rd in the ACC). 

joseph part of indiana basketball hof
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame announced that coach Joseph will be a part of the 10-person Women’s Class of 2015. Joseph, a native of Auburn, Indiana, played at DeKalb High School and at Purdue University. As a senior at DeKalb, joseph averaged a state-best 35.1 ppg. She was named both a Parade Magazine and Street & Smith All-American in 1988 and honored on the 1988 Indiana All-Star team.

A four-year starter for the Boilermakers from 1989-1992, Joseph is one of the most decorated players in Purdue and Big Ten Conference history as she garnered numerous conference and national accolades. After earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors as well as second-team all-conference accolades in 1989, Joseph was a first-team all-Big Ten selection in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year as a senior. She also earned Kodak All-America honors in 1992, when she was tabbed the Women’s Basketball News’ College Player of the Year.

Joseph graduated from Purdue as the all-time leading scorer in school (men or women) and Big Ten Conference history (2,405 points) and was the only player in conference history to rank in the top-10 in both points and assists.

welcome to the big leagues
Freshman Zaire O’Neil had a career day against Central Arkansas, leading the team in both points and rebounds with her first career double-double. O’Neil scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds while handing out three assists and grabbing two steals. O’Neil is averaging 11.2 points per game, which is third on the Jackets, and 4.3 rebounds per game.

davis on Wooden & Naismith watch lists
Sophomore Kaela Davis was named to the John R. Wooden Preseason Top 30 watch list. Davis is one of six ACC student-athletes on the list for one of the nation’s most prestigious college basketball awards. She is also one of six sophomores that were recognized. The list is chosen by a preseason poll of national college women’s basketball media members.

Davis has also been named to the Naismith Trophy Women’s Top 50 Watch List for the second year in a row. Davis is one of 12 sophomores on the list and one of 10 ACC players honored. The 50 player watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2014-15 college basketball season.

free basketball
Georgia Tech played in its first overtime game at #16/16 Michigan State on Dec. 4 since falling to Clemson on Jan. 30, 2014, 80-79 in OT. Overall, the Yellow Jackets are 18-22 when playing in OT. Under Joseph, Tech has a 4-10 record in overtime. When playing more than one overtime period, the Jackets are 2-5. 

davis’ 20+ games
So far this season, sophomore Kaela Davis has scored at least 20 points in five of 10 games. Davis is tied for second in the ACC among active players with five 20 point games this season. She has 19 career 20 point games and the Jackets are 13-6 when Davis scores at least 20 points.

sydney from three
Senior Sydney Wallace leads the Jackets with 22 made 3-pointers. Wallace is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers a game which ranks seventh in the ACC. She is shooting 39.3 percent (22-of-56) from behind the arc. Wallace has made at least one 3-pointer in every game besides one and has made at least three shots from behind the acr in three games. Her season-high is five made 3-pointers at #16 Michigan State. 

Her 14.2 ppg scoring average ranks 14th in the ACC. Wallace has led Tech in scoring this season
twice and has 973 career points, just 27 away from hitting 1,000. Her 164 career-made 3-pointers ranks sixth in Georgia Tech history.

davis’ scoring streak
Sophomore Kaela Davis extended her double-figure scoring streak to 22-straight games. Davis has scored at least 20 points in four of the past seven games. Her 20 points against Michigan State marked her19th 20-point game. Against Villanova, Davis led Tech with 24 points, her 21st time in her career and sixth time this season that she has led the Jackets in scoring. Davis has scored in double-figures in all 10 games this season and has five 20-point games. Davis has scored in double-figures in 39 games in her 42-game career.

Davis’ 18.2 points per game ranks fourth in the ACC and first on the Jackets. Her 5.4 rebounds
per game is second-best on the team.

consistency is key
There have been some reoccurring themes throughout the Yellow Jackets’ six victories. One Yellow Jacket has had a double-double in five wins, with junior Roddreka Rogers recording three against Loyola, Morgan State and Grambling State and junior Aaliyah Whiteside tallying one against Kennesaw State. Zaire O’Neil recorded one against Central Arkansas. In five wins, Georgia Tech has had double-figure margin of victories, with its largest being 38 in a 88-50 win vs. Central Arkansas. 

Four different Jackets have led Tech in scoring in the six wins. Sophomores Kaela Davis and Katarina Vuckovic each scored a team-high 17 points at Loyola Chicago, while Davis led Tech against Kennesaw State, Grambling State and Villanova.Whiteside was the top scorer against Morgan State while O’Neil led Tech vs. Central Arkansas.

Two Yellow Jackets have scored in double figures in all six wins – Davis and senior Sydney Wallace. 

NEXT UP
The Yellow Jackets travel north to face St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday at noon.