Nov. 14, 2009
Box Score
Springfield, Mo. - In her Georgetown debut freshman guard Ta'Shauna `'Sugar'' Rodgers (Suffolk, Va./King's Fork) made her presence known leading the Hoyas with 21 points in a 79-55 victory over Missouri State University (0-1) Saturday afternoon at the JQH Arena. The Hoyas' stifling pressure and full-court press were too much for the Lady Bears as GU forced 25 turnovers on the afternoon. The win marks the second year in a row that Georgetown has won its season opener.
"I felt our ladies came out and played well," said Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. "We got off to a slow start but when we became more aggressive on defense we got going. Our defense is what sparks our offense."
Missouri State jumped out to an early lead paced by a pair of three's, but a 7-0 run over four minutes allowed the Hoyas to take the lead at the 12-minute mark. Sophomore Adria Crawford (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison) scored six-straight points, two off of offensive rebounds, as the Blue & Gray's full-court press and trapping half-court defense caused problems early.
The squads began to settle in as the Hoyas maintained a slim advantage. Late in the first, a four-on-five three-pointer from sophomore Rubylee Wright (Latta, S.C./Latta) gave GU an eight-point lead, its largest of the game. A second-chance basket from Crawford, a drive by Rodgers and a bucket in transition by Wright ended the half as Georgetown went into the break leading 35-22. The Hoyas ended the half with a 9-1 run.
Rodgers led all scorers with nine points in the first while Crawford added eight. The Blue & Gray shot 44.4 percent in the half with 22 points in the paint and outrebounded the Lady Bears, 25-15. The Hoya defense tallied seven steals and forced 11 turnovers in the first.
The defensive pressure continued in the second as the Hoyas continued to run the floor and rebound forcing eight Lady Bear turnovers in the opening eight minutes. GU scored in the paint and on the defensive end, and didn't allow a field goal until the 13-minute mark.
Holding a 25-point advantage, its largest of the game to that point, Georgetown surrendered six-straight points to Missouri State as the team attempted to mount a comeback. MSU pulled within 14 but that would be as close as the squad would get as Georgetown rattled off three trey's, two from Wright and one from Latia Magee (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks). From that point on, the Hoyas cruised to the 79-55 victory.
Rodgers led all scorers with 21 points, while Wright added 13 and Butler as well as Monica McNutt (Suitland, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) tallied 10 apiece. The Hoyas shot 48.5 percent from the field and held MSU to just 30.4 percent shooting. Georgetown forced 25 turnovers and had 17 steals but was outrebounded 38-37.
"I've watched Sugar for two years now, I recruited her for two years and she played for my brother so she came out and did exactly what I expected her to do," said Williams-Flournoy on Rodger's performance.
The Hoyas will continue their six-game road trip as they travel to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
