Jan. 4, 2011
Box Score
Photo Gallery
WASHINGTON - Senior guard Monica McNutt (Suitland, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) scored a career-high 27 points and sophomore guard Sugar Rodgers (Suffolk, Va./King's Fork) added her second double-double of the season as the No. 15/14 Georgetown women's basketball squad (13-3, 1-1 BIG EAST) defeated the No. 23/RV Syracuse University Orange (12-2, 0-1 BIG EAST), 80-62, at McDonough Arena Tuesday evening.
"I was extremely pleased with our effort tonight," said Georgetown Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. "We couldn't start the BIG EAST down 0-2, playing from behind in this league is almost impossible. This was a must-win game and we treated it as such."
Despite the 18-point victory, the Hoyas had to battle to stay ahead of the physical Orange squad. The Blue & Gray led by 13 to start the second half and swelled the lead to 19 at 13:38. However, Syracuse managed an 11-2 run to cut the advantage to just ten points midway through the half.
An 8-0 Georgetown run just minutes later, including five points from McNutt, pulled the Hoyas ahead as GU cruised to the 80-62 victory.
Georgetown started out hot, jumping out to a 10-point lead at the 13-minute mark in the first half. Syracuse cut it to six with 3:23 remaining in the first, but back-to-back three's by Rodgers game the Hoyas confidence going into the half. A last-second layup from Rodgers off of a steal at midcourt made it 44-29 going into the break. The sophomore had 17 points in the first.
McNutt led all scorers with a career-high 27 points including four three's and a 5-of-6 performance from the line. Rodgers added her second double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds including five on the offensive glass. She also managed six assists and three steals.
Georgetown outrebounded Syracuse, 36-34, and forced 31 Orange turnovers on 16 steals. Both teams shot 42.9 percent for the game. It was the first contest this season that the Orange were outrebounded.
"We knew rebounding would be the difference," said Williams-Flournoy. "I challenged the team and told them that they would lose the game if we gave up offensive rebounds. They really responded and got a body on someone every time."
The Hoyas will continue BIG EAST play on Saturday as the squad hosts Marquette at 2 p.m., at McDonough Arena. Live stats and a webcast featuring Ryan Sakamoto will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.
