Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

For Improving Hoyas, Sky Is the Limit

The winningest season in over a decade, the deepest postseason run in program history and four returning starters; for most teams, this would be a recipe for big dreams and high hopes.

Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy and the Hoyas, however, are focusing on working even harder and have taken the attitude that there’s always room for improvement. When asked about building off of last season’s success, Williams-Flournoy simply stated the areas of the game in which her team needs to improve.

“We still have to continue to do the things that we want to do: play defense and we really need to be on our defensive rebounding, that’s one of our key goals this year,” Williams-Flournoy said.

Seniors Jaleesa Butler and Shanice Fuller will lead the way on that front; Butler recorded a team-high

5.3 rebounds per game and was second with 24 blocks, while Fuller ranked second on the squad with 48 steals.

Their leadership will also prove vital on the offensive end of the floor. Butler, a 6-foot forward, provides Georgetown with a true inside-outside threat. The Hoyas’ leading returning scorer averaged 10 points per game (11.8 ppg in the Big East) while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Fuller struggled with her shooting last season (30.2 percent) but still scored 8.1 points per game; most importantly for the Hoyas, she provides an experienced presence at the point, directing the

Georgetown offense to the tune of four assists per game.

Fellow seniors Kenya Kirkland and Meredith Cox will also be called on to provide key minutes. Kirkland provides the Blue and Gray with a defensive stopper who can shut down opponents at the end of the game, while Cox – a three-point specialist – is a threat to knock it down from anywhere.

Junior guard Monica McNutt and sophomore forward Adria Crawford should help ease the scoring load. McNutt reliably contributes in all areas; last season she ranked fourth on the team in scoring with eight points per game on 40.4 percent shooting, fourth in rebounding (3.9 rpg), first in steals (49) and third in blocks (15). Crawford emerged as the best true post player on an undersized Hoya team last season, grabbing 5.1 boards in only 20 minutes per game, and her continued development will play a crucial role in Georgetown’s success this year.

Fortunately for Crawford, interior help is on the way in the form of freshman centers Sydney Wilson and Vanessa Moore. Wilson, a 6-foot-6 local product from Silver Spring, Md., was twice named a Sporting News Preseason All-American. She and Moore, the 33rd-ranked post player by HoopGurlz.com, give Georgetown some much needed size in the paint.

“That’s why we signed them,” Williams-Flournoy said. “We needed some help in the post.”

ost important to Georgetown’s success this season will be the progression of the seven-member sophomore class. Forward Latia Magee and point guard Rubylee Wright both saw significant minutes last year and could break into the starting lineup this year, and the rest of the class should see more minutes this season also.

Williams-Flournoy said that last season’s run to the NIT quarterfinals sped up the maturation process.

“I think the postseason run made them work even harder in the summer, which has just continued to

come through during preseason and now to the season,” Williams-Flournoy said. “I think it really taught our team how to win and how to compete in tournament-type situations and gave them a chance to . play against better competition. Which, you know, we already do . in the Big East. But to continue to play in the postseason is . always a goal of every team. So, I think the experience really helped them a lot.”

But when asked about specific goals for the upcoming season, Williams-Flournoy instead kept the focus on what must be done to accomplish those goals.

“We just want to continue to play hard, [play] aggressively defensively, and push the ball in transition,” she said, before pausing and adding: “And be better rebounding.”

Georgetown opens its season tomorrow at Missouri State. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.”

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