Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU Hosts Tennessee Tech in FAU Thanksgiving Classic
11/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2008
FAU Thanksgiving Classic
November 29-30, 2008 - FAU Arena
Tennessee Tech vs. FAU Saturday 3 p.m.
Georgia Tech vs. Texas Saturday 5 p.m.
Consolation 3 p.m.
Championship 5 p.m.
GAME FIVE: After winning back-to-back games against in-state teams UCF and Bethune-Cookman, the Florida Atlantic University basketball team leads off the FAU Thanksgiving Classic against Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 3 p.m. at FAU Arena. The winner of the Tennessee Tech-FAU game will face the winner of the nightcap, Georgia Tech vs. Texas in the Championship game on Sunday at 5 p.m.
TAKE A KID TO THE GAME DAY: For Saturday's FAU-Tennessee Tech game, buy one adult ticket to the game and get one kid ticket for free.
RADIO/INTERNET: Steve Bishop will call the action of FAU-Tennessee Tech on Saturday beginning at 2:45 p.m. and Sunday's FAU tournament game with live play-by-play audio free of charge on www.fausports.com.
THE SERIES: Tennessee Tech leads the series 1-0. The only time these two teams met was on November 21, 2004 in Cookeville, Tennessee. The Golden Eagles held off a late rally by the Owls to win 81-65. Cristal Randolph scored a then career-high 18 points on six three-pointers as the Owls cut a 22-point deficit to seven before fading late.
HOME MILESTONE: A win on Saturday by the Owls would give them home win number 200 in the programs history.
STREAKING: A win on Saturday would give the Owls their first three-game win streak since the Atlantic Sun Tournament in 2006, which FAU won to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC: FAU won its second game in a row on Tuesday night with a convincing 83-69 victory over Bethune-Cookman. Five players scored double-figures, led by Breana Turner (New Orleans, LA/De La Salle HS) who put in 15 points. Mercedes Thompson (Boca Raton, FL/Pope John Paul II HS) added 14 points in just 15 minutes off the bench as the Owls shot 34 of 70 (48 percent) in the ballgame, 52 percent in the second half. FAU out rebounded the Wildcats 49-41, led by Carla Stubbs (Miami, FL/Jackson HS) who had nine caroms to go along with her 12 points. Jaimie Givens (Orlando, FL/The First Academy) added eight boards and scored 13 points, including two of two from beyond the arc. FAU forced 18 Bethune-Cookman turnovers.
TENNESSEE TECH: Tennessee Tech is 1-3 on the season after losing to Drake 69-58 on Tuesday night. The Golden Eagles have struggled from the field early in the season, only hitting 37 percent of their shots from the field and only going 48 of 93 (51 percent) from the foul line. TTU is led by senior guard Blair Bowens, who averages 14 points per game. The Eagles will rebound the ball well, and are paced on the boards by forward Jasmine White, who averages 7.5 rebounds per contest and off the bench by Krystal Stirrup, who averages 5.8 boards a game along with 10.5 points per game.
GEORGIA TECH: The Yellowjackets are 4-1 on the season after defeating Georgia State 74-56 on Wednesday night. Tech's lone loss was an 82-71 decision to No. 1 Connecticut on November 16. Georgia Tech has performed well defensively, holding their opponents to under 55 points per game. Three players average double-figures in scoring, led by sophomore Iasia Hemingway who averages 14.6 points per game. Guard Alex Montgomery has also played well through the first five games, putting in 13.2 points per game, tying for the team lead in rebounds at 5.4 per contest, and hitting 45 percent (23-51) of her three-pointers.
TEXAS: The Longhorns are undefeated and ranked No. 9 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll after dismantling Furman 105-51 on Sunday. The Longhorns have been impressive on both sides of the ball, averaging 89.2 points per game and only giving up 49.4 points. However, this will be their first games of the year away from Austin, Texas. Three players average double figures for the Longhorns, led by junior guard Brittainey Raven who has hit 60 percent of her shots from the field (32-53) and averages 17.6 points per game. Sophomore Kathleen Nash has performed well all-around for Texas, leading the Longhorns in rebounds with seven per game and scoring 15 points per contest.
FAU PROBABLE STARTERS:
42 Jessica Knurick P 6-3 Jr. Commerce, MI
5 Jaimie Givens F 6-3 So. Orlando, FL
2 Brittany Bowe G 5-7 Jr. Ocala, FL
3 Candace Lambert G 5-8 Jr. Omaha, NE
25 Carla Stubbs G 5-10 Jr. Miami, FL
