The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team was predicted to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) this season, and junior guard Tyaunna Marshall was named to the pre-season All-ACC first team. The announcement came on Oct. 16 during the conference’s annual media day held at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C.
Third place is the highest the Yellow Jackets have ever been picked in the preseason poll.
Georgia Tech is coming off its best season in school history in which it won 26 games, 12 ACC games, finished tied for third in the ACC regular season standings, advanced to the program’s second ACC championship game, earned a berth in its first Sweet 16 and finished the year ranked No. 10.
In addition to the ACC Blue Ribbon Panel, the ACC coaches conducted a preseason poll and selected a pre-season coaches All-ACC team for the first time this year.
Duke was voted to win the conference by both the coaches and the Blue Ribbon Panel, while defending ACC champion Maryland was picked second.
“I am very excited for our team and program that both the coaches and the media picked us to finish third in the ACC,” Georgia Tech head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “Our program has evolved to a place where we expect success and are willing to work as hard as we have to exceed expectations. The ACC is without a doubt the premier conference in women’s basketball.”
Marshall is Georgia Tech’s leading returning scorer after averaging 14.4 points per game. Last season, Marshall was only one of two players in the ACC to rank in the ACC’s top 15 in scoring, rebounding and steals last season. The other was 2012 All-American Shenise Johnson of Miami.
In 2012, Marshall was named second-team All-ACC and in 2011 was selected third-team All-ACC and to the ACC All-Freshman team.
The Upper Marlboro, Md., native enters her junior season with 978 career points and will likely become the 26th Yellow Jacket with 1,000 career points and only the 10th Jacket to score 1,000 points before her senior season. Marshall has scored in double digits 54 times in 70 games and has tossed in at least 20 points 14 times.
Reigning ACC Player of the Year, junior Alyssa Thomas of Maryland, was tabbed as the Pre-season Player of the Year by the Blue Ribbon Panel. Thomas, along with sophomore Elizabeth Williams and junior Chelsea Gray, both of Duke, were selected in three-way tie for Pre-season Player of the Year by the coaches.
The Yellow Jackets will officially open the 2012-13 season with the NCAA ‘Pack The House’ game against perennial powerhouse Tennessee at 2 p.m. Nov. 11.
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