WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University women's basketball team used a huge third-quarter comeback to defeat the Seton Hall University Pirates (14-13, 6-10 BIG EAST) 51-43 Friday afternoon at McDonough Arena.  With the win the Hoyas improve to 12-14 overall and 6-9 in BIG EAST Conference play.
 
"This is what we talk about every day, we talk about energy and effort those are things you can't compromise on," said Georgetown Head Coach James Howard.  "This is a game we love, it's the greatest game on earth, and I don't know how we don't come to the table ready to play.  With four games left in the season I always try to be the best I can be and I expect the same from them.  That being said, to be able to bounce back from a deficit and to come back and win in the fashion we won it in, I'm really proud of them today."
 
Three players were in double figures as senior guard Dionna White (Baltimore, Md. / Milford Mill) led the way with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.  She was an impressive 9 of 9 from the line.  Graduate student Mikayla Venson (Arlington, Va. / Yorktown / Virginia) added 13 points with four rebounds and three assists hitting a perfect 5 of 5 from the charity stripe.  Rounding out those in double figures was graduate student guard Dorothy Adomako (Midlothian, Va. / Cosby) with 10 points and squad-best eight rebounds as well as four steals.  Junior guard Morgan Smith (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Riverdale Baptist) had a complete game with nine points, six rebounds and three steals.
 
Georgetown was outrebounded 36-35 and shot just 26.3 percent (15 of 57).  The Pirates hit 40.0 percent (18 of 45) from the field.  The difference was on defense as GU forced 24 Pirate turnovers with 13 steals and scored 20 points off of turnovers as well as 10 second-chance points.
 
The Pirates jumped out to a quick 16-3 lead as White hit a trey for the Blue & Gray.  The Hoyas had opportunities, but struggled to get the ball to fall as Seton Hall held on to the 13-point advantage at the end of the first stanza.  Georgetown scored the first points of the second quarter as Venson nailed a pair of free throws.  The Pirates matched on the other end while the Hoyas looked to chip away at the lead.  White and Smith combined for buckets, and despite a solid defensive effort, Georgetown could not get shots to fall as the squad went into the half trailing 26-13.
 
The Pirates built the lead to as much as 18 early in the third quarter before White singlehandedly went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 11 31-20.  She managed four free throws and a traditional three-point play to get it done.  Seton Hall answered with a bucket, but back-to-back scores from Adomako and Smith cut the lead to seven and forced an SHU timeout. 
 
Out of the break, White stole the ball and knocked down a trey from the corner.  On the next possession, Smith made a steal at the top of the key and threw it ahead to Adomako, her layup rolled off but went to a trailing Smith for the putback.  Georgetown put on the pressure and White came away with a steal out of the trap calling timeout.  GU set up a play and Venson hit the 3-pointer from the top of the key to pull Georgetown within one 33-32.  In total it was a 19-2 run spanning six minutes.  SHU would hit a trey at the buzzer to make it 36-32 with 10 minutes to go.
 
Adomako knocked down a shot from the baseline to begin the final period. Seton Hall had a retort in the lane, but the stifling Hoya defense continued to dominate play.  On SHU's next possession, White stole the ball in the corner and found Venson on the wing for a 3-pointer.  It was Adomako who pulled in the next steal setting up the 2 on 1 and dishing to Smith for the layup to make it 39-38 and give Georgetown its first lead of the game while also forcing a Seton Hall timeout.
 
A Venson three-point play kept the Hoyas on top, but the story was the smothering Georgetown defense.  The squads traded 3-pointers as the seconds ticked away and the Blue & Gray clung to a small lead.  The Hoyas slowed it down over the final minute looking for a good shot.  On the other end, Seton Hall tried to get the lead back.  A huge defensive rebound from Adomako gave GU the ball as the Pirates were forced to foul.  The Hoyas made their shots and held on for the 51-43 victory.
 
Georgetown will be back in action on Sunday as the squad hosts St. John's at 2 p.m. for GU's regular season home finale.  Fans can purchase tickets at WeAreGeorgetown.com.  Sunday will feature activities for children as well as Georgetown's Senior Day Ceremony.
 
The contest will be broadcast live on FS2 with John Fanta and Fred Hill on the call.