After losing five of their last six games, the Women’s Basketball team got a much-needed victory Saturday, using balanced team scoring to down a struggling Pittsburgh squad, 72-61.
After struggling in recent games against ranked teams, the Hoyas hope to use this victory to propel themselves toward a post-season tournament bid. While playing in the NCAA tournament seems a stretch barring a long Big East run, the team must finish with a winning record to qualify for the Women’s NIT tournament as an alternative. The win over the Panthers brought the Hoyas record to 11-12 overall and 5-7 in Big East conference play. Meanwhile, the Panthers, losers of eight straight, dropped to 6-16 overall and 2-10 in the Big East, eliminating themselves from postseason opportunities barring capturing the Big East Women’s tournament title.
The game was a triumphant return for sophomore Hoya guard Carmen Bruce. Bruce’s father played basketball for the University of Pittsburgh and went on to coach the Lady Panthers, where he still works in the athletics department. Bruce’s aunt, Jennifer Bruce-Scott, was also one of the best players in Panther history and was recognized during a halftime ceremony Saturday.
Bruce attended high school a few blocks from the University and is one of only two players in Pittsburgh City League history to have scored more than 2,000 career points. In her return, Bruce scored eight points and added seven boards, five assists and two steals-all above her season averages.
After shooting four of 24 in her last two games, Mary Lisicky, Georgetown’s captain and all-time leading three-point shooter, got back on track Saturday. Lisicky opened the game by connecting on two threes, helping the Hoyas jump out to an early 8-0 lead, and finished five for 11 in the game.
After Lisicky’s hot shooting touch cooled, it was Bethany LeSueur’s turn to shine. The junior guard hit the Hoyas’ next three baskets and pushed their lead to 14-4. Four minutes later, Georgetown claimed their biggest lead of the half, when jumpers by Bruce and senior phenom Rebekkah Brunson put them up 18-6. From there, Pittsburgh went on a 9-2 run to get back in the game with 6:25 left in the half.
Georgetown used a varied offensive attack, with five players scoring baskets in the half’s waning minutes, to take a 34-25 lead into intermission. It was this offensive balance that distinguished Saturday’s game from the Hoyas’ recent outings-against Boston College, for instance, Brunson scored 30 of her team’s 58 points. Even more impressively, the Hoyas shot 57.7 percent for the half and held Pittsburgh to 27.3 percent.
The second half started auspiciously for the Panthers, as Katie Histed began the half’s scoring by sinking a trey. After the teams traded baskets for a few minutes, the Panthers shaved Georgetown’s lead to four with 16:47 left.
Propelled by the shooting of forward Varda Tamoulianis, Bruce and Brunson, the Hoyas went on a 10-0 tear over the next four minutes. Pittsburgh was able to get no closer than nine the rest of the way. With 3:30 left the Panthers were down by 17, and the game was effectively out of reach.
Overall, the Hoyas shot an outstanding 55.6 percent from the floor. They also had a 25-16 assist to turnover ratio, their best in a number of games. However, Georgetown continued to struggle from the line, going eight for 14. “Bottom line is, we’ve got some players who need to work on their free throws,” Coach Knapp said.
Lisicky led all scorers with 16 points. Brunson and LeSueur added 14 each and senior captain Sarah Jenkins chipped in with nine in a rare offensive outburst.
Following the game, Brunson was named a finalist for the State Farm Wade Trophy, given annually to the top player in women’s college basketball. The award is yet another honor in her record-setting career. Brunson currently leads the Big East in scoring and rebounding and is second in blocked shots. She also leads the league in double digit scoring and rebounding games.
The Hoyas return home this Saturday, squaring off against Rutgers in their second to last home game of the year. Tip off is at 3 p.m. in McDonough Arena, and admission is free to all students with a GOCard.
