March 29, 2009
Box Score
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - Giving up was not an option for the Georgetown University women's basketball team in Sunday evening's Women's National Invitation Tournament quarterfinal game. Unfortunately, after battling back from a 12-point deficit, the Hoyas fell to Boston College (23-11), 65-56. The young squad finished the season with an overall record of 20-14, and advanced further in postseason play that any previous Georgetown women's basketball squad.
"It's always disappointing to end the season on a loss, but I was really proud of our kids tonight," said Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. "I was so happy to see them come back tonight and I'm proud of everything they have accomplished this season."
BC looked to be solid in the paint early on as the undersized Hoyas were forced to fight for every rebound and layup. However, a pair of deep three's from senior Karee Houlette (Houston, Texas/Cypress Springs) ignited Georgetown whose pressure defense and up-tempo pace disrupted the Eagles.
The lead changed eight times during the first 20 minutes, but late in the half BC managed to gain an advantage off of offensive rebounds and Georgetown turnovers making the score, 29-23, at the break.
Houlette led GU with nine points in the half as the Hoyas shot 34.5 percent from the field. The telling stat, however, was rebounds as Georgetown had just 14 to BC's 23 including 10 on the offensive glass. The pesky Hoya defense forced nine Eagle turnovers but carelessness on the other end led to nine for GU as well.
Three straight put-backs by Caroline Swords opened the half for BC as the Eagles took their largest lead of the game with a 12-point advantage. Houlette ended the run with a big three and a turnover on the other end resulted in a Shanice Fuller (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) jumper to cut it to seven.
Unfortunately after cutting the lead down, fouls allowed the Eagles to build it right back up. A shot at the elbow from Rubylee Wright (Latta, S.C./Latta) took it to seven once again later in the half, and on the following possession the defense forced a big turnover which resulted in a Monica McNutt (Suitland, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) layup.
The see-saw trend continued as GU would get close and then go cold. At 6:53, Fuller hit a three at the top of the key to make the score, 51-47, and Adria Crawford (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison) added a free throw but once again despite holding the Eagles scoreless for almost five minutes GU just couldn't hit a shot to go ahead.
Georgetown got within three and had looks but couldn't connect being forced to foul in the final two minutes. At the final buzzer, the score was 65-56 as GU finished the season in a hard-fought battle to the end.
Houlette led the Hoyas with 15 points in her final game for Georgetown, with five three's on the night. Fuller added 12 points, while McNutt and Wright each posted ten. Jaleesa Butler (St. Louis, Md./Alton) was GU's leading rebounder with six to her credit. The Hoya defense forced 16 BC turnovers, however, Georgetown was outrebounded by 20 (48-28). Fouls also played a key role in the game with GU going 1-4 at the line and BC hitting 22 of 25 attempts.
The Hoyas will lose Krystle Hatton (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood East), Beata Widding (Malmo, Sweden/Langhaugen Vidergaende) and Houlette to graduation. Houlette was Georgetown's leading scorer this year after transferring in from Panola Junior College before her junior season.
GU will return four of five starters next season and has three talented recruits coming in to round out the squad that was one of the youngest in all of Division I.
