Tough NCAA draw for Tech women

Coach MaChelle Joseph Georgia Tech women’s basketball team earned its seventh NCAA tournament berth in the past eight years.

Credit: Chuck Burton / AP

Credit: Chuck Burton / AP

Coach MaChelle Joseph Georgia Tech women’s basketball team earned its seventh NCAA tournament berth in the past eight years.

The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team earned its seventh NCAA tournament berth in the past eight years, but received a rather challenging draw.

The selection committee awarded the Yellow Jackets the No. 10 seed in the Louisville, Ky., region, and sent them to Baton Rouge, La., where they’ll play No. 7 seed LSU in its own arena.

It is the fourth time in the Jackets’ past seven NCAA tournaments that they’ve been paired up with a team playing at or near campus.

“Obviously, you don’t like to play on someone’s home court in the first round, but a lot of respect to the SEC and LSU,” coach MaChelle Joseph said. “It’s as great opportunity for us. We’ve played really well on the road this year, so we’re looking forward to it.”

The game will be played Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and broadcast on ESPN2.

If Tech can get past LSU – the Tigers are 10-4 this season at home – the Jackets would play the winner of the 2/15 game between West Virginia and Albany.

“Just being back, being able to go dancing again in the tournament is definitely a great feeling for me and my teammates and everybody who supported us,” All-ACC guard Tyaunna Marshall said. “It feels good right now.”