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WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University women's basketball team (16-9, 8-7 BIG EAST) used a big fourth-quarter push to defeat the Butler University Bulldogs (5-21, 2-13 BIG EAST), 83-72, Friday evening at McDonough Arena. The Hoyas hit six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to pull away and clinch a first round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament.

"I just thought our energy picked up in the fourth, in the second and third quarters we didn't play with that same fire," said Georgetown Head Coach Natasha Adair. "This time of year, it doesn't matter what your record is and this league's parity is so close on any given night. Tyshell King fueled us in the fourth, and it's the same energy that she gives night in and night out. Mykia Jones and Dorothy Adomako came in and hit big shot after big shot and that's the versatility of this team and how deep we can go."

Junior guard Dorothy Adomako (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) led the way with 21 points as four Hoyas scored in double figures. Senior guard Mykia Jones (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook/Wake Forest) scored 17 points with 15 of those coming the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Dionna White (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) managed 16 points going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and junior forward Cynthia Petke (Yaounde, Cameroon/-/Chipola College) tallied her first career double-double with 11 points and a squad-best 12 assists.

The Hoyas and Bulldogs each pulled in 37 rebounds and Butler shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the floor, while GU shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) from the field. The difference came in turnovers as the Blue & Gray forced 14 and committed just seven. There were 10 ties and four lead changes in the contest.

The Hoyas jumped out to a quick lead as White hit a trey, and Adomako connected on a three-point play. Back-to-back layups were part of a 7-0 run as Georgetown made it 12-4 forcing a Butler timeout. The Bulldogs scored out of the break, but a White 3-pointer stopped the momentum.

Butler pulled within seven, but senior forward Faith Woodard (Brandon, Fla./Freedom) drove the lane and the ball rolled in. Georgetown managed to keep it a nine-point game making it 21-12 at the end of the first.

The Bulldogs opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer, but Jones answered with a pair of free throws. Butler cut the lead to three as GU went cold forcing a Hoya timeout. Senior guard Tyshell King (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) sank a trey out of the break to make it 28-22 as the Blue & Gray battled back.

Despite the effort, it was not enough as Butler used a 9-3 run to take the 33-31 lead with three minutes remaining in the half.

Trailing by three, White nailed a 3-pointer in the corner to tie the game at 35 in the final minute. The defense forced a turnover, and Petke sank a pair of free throws as GU regained the lead. Woodard sparked excitement with a steal and a layup to give the Hoyas the 39-35 lead at the half.

Butler scored the first four points of the second half to tie it at 39. A pair of Adomako free throws regained the lead, but it would continue to be a battle as the advantage swung back and forth.

With the scored tied at 45, Adomako hit a jumper and a layup off of a Bulldog turnover forcing a Butler timeout as the momentum went back to the Blue & Gray.

In the waning moments of the quarter with the score tied, a defensive stop allowed GU to come down and Petke to hit a jumper. However, with less than a second left, a foul gave Butler free throws to tie the game at 55 with one stanza remaining.

The game was physical to start the final quarter, and neither team could score until an Adomako fade away broke the deadlock. White, who missed much of the third in foul trouble, sank a trey to make it 60-55. Butler answered with a 3-pointer, but the Blue & Gray fought to maintain the lead.

Midway through the quarter, Butler hit free throws to tie it again at 60. However, Jones came down and sank a jumper. On the next possession, she forced a turnover and trailed the break. White found her in almost the same spot and she nailed a trey to make it 65-60. Butler answered with a layup, but Jones converted the three-point play and another trey for a 10-2 run on her own.

This would be the end of it for the Bulldogs as Jones' momentum sparked the rest of the team. Over the final three minutes of the game, the Hoyas managed three-consecutive treys to pull away. Down the stretch, GU went 3-of-4 at the line for the comfortable 83-72 victory.

The Hoyas will host Xavier University in the squad's home finale on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will also be GU's annual Play4Kay event and fans are encouraged to join the squad in wearing pink. Prior to tip, there will be a ceremony honoring the senior women's basketball student-athletes.

Sunday will be broadcast live on the BIG EAST Digital Network. Live stats and a link to the broadcast will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.

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