Nov. 29, 2008
Los Angeles, Calif. - The Georgetown University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season falling 54-49 to the Loyola Marymount Lions (6-1) in the championship game of the Ayres Hotel Thanksgiving Classic. The Hoyas battled the Lions closely but fell in the final minute. Shanice Fuller (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) and Monica McNutt (Suitland, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) both earned all-tournament honors. The Hoyas drop to 5-1 on the season as they return home on Wednesday.
The game started out at a break-neck pace with GU getting a pair of layups in transition from McNutt, but LMU came right back by penetrating off the break and drawing Hoya fouls. As the tempo slowed, the squads began hitting from long-range as McNutt continued her solid first half with a trey from the baseline.
The lead went back and forth between the squads as neither could make a decisive run. Georgetown looked down low late in the half and got a pair of layups from junior Jaleesa Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Alton) but allowed 10 Lion free throws to keep it close down the stretch. Despite GU's pressure defense and traps, the Hoyas gave up a buzzer beater from LMU to end the half down 28-24. This marked the first time of the season GU has trailed at the break.
McNutt led Georgetown with 11 points while freshman Alexa Roche (Bellmore, N.Y./St. Michael's Academy) was the squad's top rebounder with six boards, including four on the offensive glass. Although trailing, the Georgetown defense was effective allowing LMU just 29.2 percent shooting from the field and forcing 11 turnovers. The Hoyas shot 30.6 percent and had five steals but also committed eight turnovers. GU outrebounded the Lions 24-20.
The Hoyas quickly regained the lead to start the second fueled by an 11-2 run and six points from Fuller as well as five from freshman Adria Crawford (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison). The Lions clawed their way back, and once again gained the lead on free throws and a three to shift the momentum back in their favor.
Georgetown came back with a big three from Meredith Cox (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) and solid rebounding from Crawford, but it wasn't enough. With time ticking away, GU just couldn't regain the lead falling 54-49 in the final minute of play.
McNutt led the Hoyas with 11 and Fuller added 10, Crawford was GU's leading rebounder with nine boards, including four offensive. Georgetown held a 48-41 advantage in the paint and forced 19 Lion turnovers but it wasn't enough. GU shot just 29.6 percent from the field and LMU converted 19 free throws to provide the difference in the contest. The game had 12 lead changes in forty minutes.
Georgetown will return home and host Fordham on Wednesday at McDonough Arena at 8 p.m. Gametracker and a webcast will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.
