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WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University women's basketball team fell to the Butler University Bulldogs (10-5, 2-1 BIG EAST), 66-57, in a BIG EAST Conference matchup on Friday evening at McDonough Arena. With the loss the Hoyas drop to and even 7-7 overall and 2-2 in league play.

"Tonight was a tough game," said Georgetown Head Coach James Howard. "We started the first five minutes off well, following the scouting report. Then we allowed (Tori) Schickel and (Whitney) Jennings to single handedly beat us with 54 combined points. We didn't get the contribution from our two main scorers, which was the difference."

Senior forward Cynthia Petke (Yaounde, Cameroon/-/Chipola College) led the way with her eighth double-double of the season tallying 12 points and 10 rebounds. She was followed by junior guard Dionna White (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) who had 11 points and was 6-of-6 from the line. Rounding out those in double figures was senior guard DiDi Burton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College Prep) who managed 10 points. Senior center Yazmine Belk (Queens, N.Y./Nazareth Regional) led the Hoyas with four blocks as she hit 100 career blocks in the contest.

The Hoyas were outrebounded by the Buldogs, 44-33, but forced 16 turnovers while committing just nine. Georgetown shot 30.8 percent (20-of-65) from the field, and allowed 44.4 percent (24-of-54) shooting from Butler. Tori Schickel led BU with 28 points and 15 rebounds, while Whitney Jennings had 26 points as the two combined for 54 of Butler's 66 points in the game.

Butler scored first, but a 10-0 run led by Burton forced a Butler timeout as the defense caused turnovers and turned them into offense on the other end. Belk capped off the run with a scoop shot in transition.

Following the timeout, the Bulldogs came fighting back as back-to-back 3-pointers and layups tied the game at 16 in the final minute of the first quarter. Sophomore guard Morgan Smith (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) sank an off-balance jumper to give the Blue & Gray the 18-16 lead at the end of the period.

The Bulldogs moved ahead to open the second quarter, but a layup from Petke tied the game at 22. The Hoyas stayed just a bucket or two behind for most of the stanza. Every time GU tied the game, Butler would answer right back. At the half, Butler held the 35-30 advantage.

A layup gave Butler the seven-point lead to begin the second half. However, a foul and a technical followed by four-consecutive free throws by White cut it to three, 37-34. The Hoya defense managed stops, but struggled to score on the other end. Midway through the quarter, Petke sank a pair of free throws to tie the game at 39 but the Bulldogs came down and hit a layup.

Georgetown regained the lead at 3:26 when Smith drove through the lane and completed the three-point play to make it 43-41. The advantage was short lived, however, as Butler staged a quick 8-0 run making it an uphill battle for the Blue & Gray. The Hoyas trailed 51-43 at the end of the third quarter.

The scoring woes continued in the fourth and, despite every effort, Georgetown could not find a way back into the game. Butler was able to hold on in the final 10 minutes of play resulting in the 66-57 decision.

The Hoyas will close out their three-game homestand as the team hosts the No. 21/21 Villanova Wildcats Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at McDonough Arena. The game will be broadcast live on the BIG EAST Digital Network with Matt Janus and Monika Moore calling the action. Live stats will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.

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