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

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL | GU Suffers 2nd Loss to Villanova on the Season

With hopes of finishing its three-game road trip undefeated, the Georgetown women’s basketball team travelled to Villanova last Saturday looking to avenge last month’s 60-58 loss at home. The Hoyas clawed their way back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter of a hotly contested game in which no lead reached more than seven points, but the Hoyas eventually fell to the Wildcats 68-67.

Over the course of the game, the Hoyas (10-12, 5-7 Big East) took 26 more shots than the Wildcats (18-5, 8-4 Big East) did, but were still unable to come out on top. Head Coach James Howard expressed frustration with the team’s inability to convert more shots.

“The box score also shows that we took 26 more shots than Villanova, and that we missed eight free throws, and we lost by one,” Howard said in an interview with The Hoya. “And when you get 26 more opportunities than your opponent, and you lose by one, that’s where we lost that game.”

Similar to the January game, this contest showcased a series of offensive spurts in the first half, as Villanova jumped out to an early 7-0 lead to begin the first. By the conclusion of the quarter, however, the Hoyas had trimmed the lead to four.

With under two minutes left in the second quarter, junior guard Dionna White went on a 5-0 run to single-handedly knot the game at thirty. Senior forward Cynthia Petke provided some firepower of her own in the second quarter, accounting for eight of the team’s 20 points in the second. The Hoyas went to the locker room down 34-32.

FILE PHOTO: CAROLINE PAPPAS/THE HOYA
Senior forward Cynthia Petke notched her 11th double-double of the season against Villanova, scoring 12 points with 14 rebounds.

Neither team truly proved able to separate themselves in the third period as, yet again, the two teams traded baskets back and forth. The quarter ended with a four-point Wildcat lead, 51-47. Senior guard Mikayla Venson began to find her stroke in the third, tallying six points.

In the fourth quarter, Venson carried the team. She scored 14 of the team’s 20 points in the quarter, including four three-pointers, one of which helped cut the deficit to just two with seven seconds remaining. Still, her effort was not enough to overcome Villanova, which hung on for the narrow one-point victory.

Venson and White finished with 23 points and 21 points, respectively, in a game marked primarily by offensive performances. Petke finished the game with her 11th double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Senior center Yazmine Belk added eight points of her own, which helped keep the Hoyas within striking distance throughout the game.

Though the Hoyas fell again to Villanova, the team has stacked up well against the best in the Big East. The Hoyas lost both games to third-place Villanova by a combined total of three points, while defeating second-ranked Marquette by nearly 30 points last month. These three games in particular provide a solid foundation for Georgetown’s future.

Howard expressed optimism for the future, but acknowledged what the team must do to win.

“I think they really believe that they can play with anyone in the Big East, but we have to put it all together—like in the Marquette game, we put everything together, we played well defensively, we played well offensively, and the Big Three [White, Venson and Petke] played well,” Howard said. “So, when that is happening, we’re tough to beat.”

Georgetown returns home this weekend for matchups against Seton Hall (15-9, 7-6 Big East) and St. John’s (14-10, 7-6 Big East). The team faces off against Seton Hall on Friday and St. John’s on Sunday. Both games will be in McDonough Arena at 2 p.m.

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