From Broston-
On Thursday, the #17 Georgia Tech Women’s basketball team will be back in Atlanta to host in-state opponent Kennesaw State University for their season home opener. Both teams are coming into Thursday’s matchup (1-0) with impressive season-opening wins. The Jackets defeated the CMU Chippewas in Mount Pleasant, MI on Tuesday night, 74-40, while the Owls hosted and defeated NAIA opponent Thomas University, 100-31.
Kennesaw State comes into McCamish Pavilion without a road win dating to February 15th, 2020. A year ago, the Owls were (0-6) in Away games during the shortened Covid-plagued season. KSU is led by Seniors: Forward Alexis Poole, Guard Jah’Che Whitfield, and Guard Amani Johnson. Poole’s return has already impacted the court as she contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds in the season opener against Thomas University. She looks to be back on track as the former All-ASUN Freshman-teamer averaged 10.2 PPG in the 17’-18’ season, 14.2 PPG in 18’-19’, and 17.2 PPG in her Junior year.
Senior guards Whitfield and Johnson provide the Owls with two scorers that averaged more than 10 PPG a season ago. Johnson provides KSU as a 3-point threat shooting just over 32% from that range in her career while averaging 4.5 assists per game as an Owl. A season ago, Whitfield averaged short of a double-double going for 10.8 PPG along with 6.9 rebounds per game. If KSU wishes to make an upset bid, it will be on their seniors’ backs to help carry them across the finish line.
After handling business on the road on Tuesday, Georgia Tech looks to conduct business again on Thursday night. The Jackets executed a tremendous defensive display while holding the Chippewas to 40 points total and limiting their top scorer, who averaged 20 PPG coming into the game, to just two. The Jackets will be relying on their Seniors for the bulk of their scoreboard, but newcomers and underclassmen have stepped up in a big way in the past two match-ups for Tech.
Sophomore guard Eylia Love has stepped up in Kierra Fletcher’s absence, as she has scored in double figures in Tech’s exhibition game against Clayton State, 21 points, and on the road against CMU, 15 points. Love has found success getting to the basketball and drawing contact. Look for her to be aggressive on the inside again in this game.
Senior forward Digma Stroutmane has made an immediate impact after her transfer from Syracuse. She cashed in a team-high 19 points with two made 3’s, and Stroutmane shared a team-high in rebounds at 9 with Senior forward Lorela Cubaj. Seniors Cubaj and guard Lotta-Maj Lahtinen have had slow starts so far in the scoring column, but I do not expect that trend to continue. Look for a breakout performance by either of those two ACC award winners.
When and Where?
Location: McCamish Pavilion, ATLANTA, GA
Time: 7 P.M. EST
TV/Stream: ACCNX
On Thursday, the #17 Georgia Tech Women’s basketball team will be back in Atlanta to host in-state opponent Kennesaw State University for their season home opener. Both teams are coming into Thursday’s matchup (1-0) with impressive season-opening wins. The Jackets defeated the CMU Chippewas in Mount Pleasant, MI on Tuesday night, 74-40, while the Owls hosted and defeated NAIA opponent Thomas University, 100-31.
Kennesaw State comes into McCamish Pavilion without a road win dating to February 15th, 2020. A year ago, the Owls were (0-6) in Away games during the shortened Covid-plagued season. KSU is led by Seniors: Forward Alexis Poole, Guard Jah’Che Whitfield, and Guard Amani Johnson. Poole’s return has already impacted the court as she contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds in the season opener against Thomas University. She looks to be back on track as the former All-ASUN Freshman-teamer averaged 10.2 PPG in the 17’-18’ season, 14.2 PPG in 18’-19’, and 17.2 PPG in her Junior year.
Senior guards Whitfield and Johnson provide the Owls with two scorers that averaged more than 10 PPG a season ago. Johnson provides KSU as a 3-point threat shooting just over 32% from that range in her career while averaging 4.5 assists per game as an Owl. A season ago, Whitfield averaged short of a double-double going for 10.8 PPG along with 6.9 rebounds per game. If KSU wishes to make an upset bid, it will be on their seniors’ backs to help carry them across the finish line.
After handling business on the road on Tuesday, Georgia Tech looks to conduct business again on Thursday night. The Jackets executed a tremendous defensive display while holding the Chippewas to 40 points total and limiting their top scorer, who averaged 20 PPG coming into the game, to just two. The Jackets will be relying on their Seniors for the bulk of their scoreboard, but newcomers and underclassmen have stepped up in a big way in the past two match-ups for Tech.
Sophomore guard Eylia Love has stepped up in Kierra Fletcher’s absence, as she has scored in double figures in Tech’s exhibition game against Clayton State, 21 points, and on the road against CMU, 15 points. Love has found success getting to the basketball and drawing contact. Look for her to be aggressive on the inside again in this game.
Senior forward Digma Stroutmane has made an immediate impact after her transfer from Syracuse. She cashed in a team-high 19 points with two made 3’s, and Stroutmane shared a team-high in rebounds at 9 with Senior forward Lorela Cubaj. Seniors Cubaj and guard Lotta-Maj Lahtinen have had slow starts so far in the scoring column, but I do not expect that trend to continue. Look for a breakout performance by either of those two ACC award winners.
When and Where?
Location: McCamish Pavilion, ATLANTA, GA
Time: 7 P.M. EST
TV/Stream: ACCNX
