ATLANTA -- Bethune-Cookman is in the "ATL" for its third consecutive WNIT appearance and second in a row against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Thursday when the Lady Wildcat face Georgia Tech in McCamish Pavilion. Tip off is 7 p.m.
Bethune-Cookman (24-6) finished atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season for the third consecutive season to earn the WNIT. The Lady Wildcats fell to Hampton in last week's MEAC tournament semifinals.
Georgia Tech (18-13) is making its fourth consecutive WNIT appearance.
Thursday's winner will face either UAB or Chattanooga Saturday.
POST-SEASON: The Lady Wildcats are seeking their first post-season win since an 84-63 win over Rust in the 1981 AIAW regionals. Bethune-Cookman is 1-5 all-time in the post-season, including WNIT setbacks to FGCU in 2016 and Wake Forest last year.
THE RUN: The 2017-18 season saw the Lady Wildcats set a program record with 23 regular season wins -- including a 14-game winning streak -- and its first national record as a Division I program with a two-week run at No. 25 on the College Insider.com Mid-Major poll.
SHE'S BACK: Head Coach
Vanessa Blair-Lewis returns to the sidelines after missing last week's MEAC tournament after giving birth to her second son, Bryce Robert. Blair-Lewis was named MEAC Coach Of The Year for an unprecedented third consecutive and fourth overall this season.
STATS AND STUFF: Bethune-Cookman enters the game ranked fifth in the nation in 3FG defense (26.7) percent, 20th in field goal percentage (35.7) and 22nd overall (56.0) This is the second straight year B-CU has finished in the top 25 in those categories … MEAC Player Of The Year
Angel Golden was 41st in 3FG per game (2.73).
SENIOR MOMENTS: Seniors
Lyndsey Edwards and
Emily Williams are the first senior class to have three consecutive winning seasons since the class of 1989. Edwards and Williams have 68 and 66 victories, respectively.
SISTER ACT: MEAC All-Rookie Team selection
Brianna Battle and
Kanesha Battle are on of 18 sister combinations in Division I basketball.
NO, THAT WAS THE GUYS: B-CU's Men's Team played Georgia Tech back in November, dropping a tight 65-62 decision that came down to a final shot. This is the first time that the men and women have both played the same ACC team in the same year.
INTEL ON TECH: Georgia Tech advanced to last year's WNIT championship, falling in triple overtime to Michigan … The Yellow Jackets were the tenth seed in the ACC tournament and defeated Clemson in the first round before falling to Virginia in the second round.
THURSDAY'S COVERAGE: The game will be shown on ACC Network Extra and watchespn.com … our CATEYE network will have an online audiocast with
Nolan Alexander, himself a Georgia Tech alum on the call; click links to listen … And follow our official twitter @BCUWBB for in-game updates.
