UNCASVILLE, Connecticut - The eighth-seeded Georgetown University women's basketball team used a big third quarter to down the ninth-seeded Butler University Bulldogs (12-19) 62-58 on Friday morning in the opening game of the BIG EAST Tournament presented by JEEP Brands at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. With the win, the Blue & Gray improves to 14-16 overall.
 
Head Coach Darnell Haney

• "I'm extremely proud of our group and our effort tonight. In the first half, especially in the first quarter, we missed a lot of chippies offensively. Our defense carried us. It looked like we packed our defense with us to come up here to the BIG EAST Tournament, and it showed in the second half. I'm just very proud of our group, and kudos to Butler. They're a good team and Coach Parkinson does a great job with them. But we packed our defense tonight and I'm proud of our group for that."

How it Happened

• The teams traded buckets early before a Butler triple midway through the first gave the Bulldogs a slight advantage.
• The Hoyas fought back thanks to the work of sophomores Amanda Ajobiewe and Destiny Agubata, but trailed 17-11 after one.
• The Blue & Gray started the second quarter on a 7-2 run including five points from graduate student Laila Jewett.
• Jewett beat the shot clock with a triple to cut it to three late in the half, but the Bulldogs continued to hit from downtown as the Hoyas went into the locker room trailing, 30-23.
• Georgetown came out fired up in the second half as a layup from graduate student Chetanna Nweke sparked a 15-4 run giving GU the 38-34 lead.
• Free throws allowed Butler to keep it close, but the Hoyas had the momentum and a 44-42 advantage heading into the final stanza.
• Throughout the fourth quarter, the Blue & Gray clung to a small lead as Butler stayed within striking distance.
• With 15 seconds remaining and a three-point advantage, free throws from Jewett sealed the 62-58 victory.

Of Note

• Jewett led the Hoyas with 19 points including four triples.
• Graduate student Brianna Scott and Nweke tallied 10 apiece, while combining for 13 rebounds (7 for Scott and 6 for Nweke), four steals and three blocks.
• The Blue & Gray shot 36.8% (25-68) from the field, but allowed 42.2% (19-45) shooting by Butler.
• The Hoyas outrebounded the Bulldogs, 37-31, and GU forced 20 Butler turnovers on 10 steals.
• Anna Wypych led the way for Butler with 18 points as one of two Bulldogs in double figures.

Up Next

• The Hoyas will now face top-seeded UConn in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Saturday at noon at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
• The game will be broadcast live on Peacock with John Fanta and Kim Adams calling the action.
• Live stats will be available at GUHoyas.com.