Tallahassee Democrat Thanksgiving Classic tips off Tuesday at TCC

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (November 25, 2013) – Tallahassee Community College's women's basketball team continues a challenging non-conference schedule on Tuesday when it opens play in the annual Tallahassee Democrat Thanksgiving Classic at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome. 

The Eagles will play Gadsden State (Ala.) Community College at 7:30 p.m. in the second of two games scheduled for the opening day of the Classic. Walters State (Tenn.) Community College and Daytona State College tip things off at 5:30 p.m. 

For Tallahassee and first-year head coach Franqua "Q" Bedell, the Classic provides another opportunity for the Eagles to build on a resume that already includes a win over NJCAA No. 10 Darton (Ga.) State College. After Tuesday's game against Gadsden State, Tallahassee will square off against Walters State at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. 

Gadsden State and Walters State, the defending NJCAA District 7 Champion, are a combined 13-0, pushing the overall record of Tallahassee's opponents thus far to an impressive 39-17. Eight of those victories belong to Walters State, who is ranked No. 11 in the current NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Poll. 

In fact, Walters State has won the TCCAA State Championship and advanced to the NJCAA Tournament seven times in the last nine years. 

Tallahassee has very little history against its upcoming opponents. The Eagles have never faced Gadsden State and have only met up with the Senators on one previous occasion – a 66-65 win by Tallahassee in Decatur, Ga., on November 28, 2009. That victory halted what was a 47-game regular season winning streak for Walters State. 

Tallahassee upped its current record to 5-2 following a 63-50 win at Santa Fe College on Friday, the Eagles' second win over the Saints this season. 

Wednesday's schedule at the Classic also includes a 1 p.m. women's game between Gadsden State and Daytona State, as well as a 3 p.m. men's game between Southwest Tennessee Community College and Jefferson Davis (Ala.) Community College. 

On Thanksgiving Day, Walters State and Gadsden State will bring the Classic to an end with a noon tip-off. 

Following the games on Tuesday and Wednesday, fans are invited to attend the Postgame Party with the Eagles served by Applebee's. This week's postgame party will take place at Applebee's located at 1388 Capital Circle NW. Fans who bring a game program to the store will receive 10% off any full-price menu item. Applebee's will also be offering half-price appetizers after 10 p.m. both days.

Tallahassee Community College Athletics would like to thank theLeon County Tourist Development Council and Chick-fil-A West Tennessee Street for serving as participating sponsors for the Tallahassee Democrat Thanksgiving Classic.