Dec. 19, 2008
Box Score
Photo Gallery
Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University women's basketball team shook off the rust Friday evening and cruised to a 72-52 victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (5-4) at McDonough Arena. The game was GU's first since December 7 and the team started slow but quickly picked up with a 15-1 run to take control of the game and never look back. With the win the Hoyas improve to 8-2 on the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead finding points off of the press break. The Hoyas had some decent looks but struggled to get the ball through the net. A 9-0 run by GWU resulted in a 17-5 lead but Georgetown came right down the floor with a 15-1 comeback of its own. A pair of treys by Karee Houlette (Houston, Texas/Cypress Springs), a runner in the lane with the free throw from Jaleesa Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Alton) and six points from freshman Morgan Williams (Dickinson, Texas/Dickinson) helped GU gain the lead with ten minutes remaining.
"Between not having played, finals and everything I really wasn't surprised," said Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy about GU's slow start. "I knew we would get it together and calm down, which we did."
The Hoyas continued to hold GWU scoreless, forcing turnovers and getting the defensive rebound while finding basket on offense as Kenya Kirkland (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grand Street Campus) sank a shot from the baseline to push it to a 17-point run.
With the Runnin' Bulldogs within one and the Hoyas pressuring up top, Williams, Houlette and senior Beata Widding (Malmo, Sweden/Langhaugen Vidergaende) all hit three's to maintain the lead. The Hoyas' pressure defense was too much for Gardner-Webb as it forced a number of turnovers late in the half. Monica McNutt (Suitland, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) came in and immediately hit a shot on the baseline and a three to hold off the pesky Bulldogs who were finding their rhythm.
At the break, the Hoyas held a 41-30 advantage. Houlette led the squad with 11 points including three shots from beyond the arc and a trio of steals. Williams added nine and McNutt had seven. Butler notched three steals and senior Krystle Hatton (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood East) pulled down a team-best four rebounds. The Hoya defense forced 15 turnovers in the first half.
Georgetown managed to hold steady to open the second as the squads traded baskets for the first ten minutes. Midway through, the Hoyas put together an 8-0 run to comfortably pull ahead by 16. Gardner-Webb used a quick scoring spurt to get the deficit back down to ten but once again GU came back with a basket from Latia Magee (Jenks, Okla./Jenks) and a turn around jumper from Hatton.
Playing with a number of different combinations in the game, Georgetown was able to hold on to a comfortable lead and cruised to the 72-52 victory.
Leading the Hoyas were Houlette and McNutt who both notched 13 points in the game, Hatton had a big game down low with 13 rebounds to her credit. Georgetown out-rebounded Gardner-Webb 49-38 and shot 40.8 percent from the field.
The Hoyas also forced 21 Bulldog turnovers many coming off of aggressive plays up top. "That's our style of play," said Williams-Flournoy. "We try to play defense without fouling but we are an aggressive team and we want our girls to get after it all game, every game. Sometimes that results in fouls, but it also forces a lot of turnovers."
The Hoyas will have just a day's rest before making the short trip across town to American University on Sunday for a 2 p.m., game. A live webcast will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.
