Lady Jackets prepare to open season on road

By Willie Strong
Rookie effort
photo by Josh Auzins

In preparation for the start of the regular season, the Georgia Tech women's basketball team defeated Penza of Russia 79-75 in an exhibition game afternoon at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. That followed an 106-88 exhibition win over Prerov, the Russian Junior National team.

Super sophomore Kenya Williams led the Lady Jackets on Sunday with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

"We were not doing anything in the first period, and we knew the audience could tell," said Williams. "I don't know how we got the lead by the end of the first period."

The first two points of the game was scored by an explosive layup by Joannah Kauffman, as she whirled and released a finger-roll off the glass. Then, Carla Munnion put some "fire" into the Georgia Tech's team, by "popping" the nets with the first three-pointer of the game.

Penza kept the game close, and the Lady Jackets held a slim two-point at halftime 36-34 in front of 208 fans.

The Penza team was guided by Oksana Tchougounova, who scored 11 points in the first half, and tried to win this game for the Penza team, but couldn't. The compliment of Tchougounova was Olga Korovina, who scored a total of eight points in the first period. Elena Plotnikova appeared as though she was going to dominate this exhibition game, but was hindered by Georgia Tech, as Plotnikova scored six points in the first period, and four points in the second half.

Last Thursday, the Lady Jackets played Prerov in an exhibition on the "road" at Sequoyah High School in nearby Canton. That victory was a bit more convincing, as the Lady Jackets shot 51 percent in the first half to take a 48-40 lead. In the second half, the squad shot even better, 59 percent.

Donehew and Kauffman both scored 18 points, and Kauffman added 11 rebounds. Coach Agnus Berenato was able to get virtually the entire team playing time.

The Lady Jackets begin the regular season Saturday against American University on the road. American finished 18-9 last season and just defeated seventh-ranked Virginia 69-67 in their season opener.

Tuesday, the Lady Jackets play in Atlanta at Georgia State at 6 p.m.

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