UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Despite trailing after the first quarter, the Georgetown University women's basketball team used two dominant quarters to defeat the Xavier University Musketeers 62-40 on Friday afternoon in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament presented by JEEP at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The sixth-seeded Hoyas now advance to the quarterfinals where they will face third-seeded St. John's on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. With the win, the Hoyas improve to 20-10 on the year, while the Musketeers finish at 1-27 for the season.  

Interim Head Coach Darnell Haney

• "Kudos to our group. They persevered and came out the second quarter and played Georgetown basketball. Then when we came out in the third quarter, we kind of had to get on them at halftime a little bit about doing that, then we came out the third quarter and, again, played Georgetown basketball. We have to do a better job of starting and finishing better than we started, and I think we're ready to do that. We have a good St. John's team tomorrow, but we'll be ready."

How it Happened

• Georgetown struggled to score in the first quarter as Xavier was able to build the lead to as much as eight on multiple occasions.
• A late triple from senior Jada Claude would cut the deficit to five, but Xavier had one more bucket before the end of the period made it 16-9 in favor of the Musketeers.
• The Blue & Gray found its offense in the second quarter opening the period with a 14-2 run to take the five-point lead, 23-18.
• Xavier answered with a trey on the other end, and it would be a two-possession game at the half with the Hoyas leading 30-24.
• The offensive deluge continued in the second half as Georgetown opened with an 18-0 run including six points from both graduate students Mya Bembry and Alex Cowan.
• The defense was strong holding the Musketeers to no field goals and just two points in the period which set the new BIG EAST Tournament record for fewest points allowed in a quarter.
• At the end of the third, the Hoyas led 50-26.
• Georgetown would not take its foot off of the gas and continued to push in the fourth quarter. Xavier outscored GU in the final period, but the Hoyas cruised to the 62-40 victory.

Of Note

• Georgetown boasted a balanced attack led by 11 points and five rebounds from junior Brianna Scott.
• Three other players managed 10 points apiece as senior Kelsey Ransom, Bembry and Claude were all in double figures.
• Graduate student Graceann Bennett led the Hoyas on the glass with seven boards, while Ransom managed six assists and four steals.
• The Blue & Gray shot 42.4% (25-59) from the field, and Georgetown allowed just 32.7% (16-49) shooting by the Musketeers.
• GU outrebounded XU 37-32, and Georgetown forced 18 Xavier turnovers on eight steals.
• Nila Blackford and Aizhanique Mayo led the Musketeers with 12 points apiece.

Up Next

• The Hoyas will face third-seeded St. John's in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
• The game will be broadcast live on FS2 with John Fanta and Kim Adams calling the action.
• Live stats will be available at GUHoyas.com.