After dropping its season opener, the Georgetown women’s basketball team has reeled off four straight wins, the last a 67-57 come-from-behind victory over Towson. The start is the program’s best start in four years, but the Hoyas know too well that early season success does not necessarily translate into conference wins; last year, Georgetown won 10 of its first 14 games only to finish the season 13-15 overall and 3-13 against Big East opponents. This year’s team, which starts four upperclassmen, is looking to learn from the experience and carry its non-conference success into a Big East ledger that boasts five nationally ranked squads, including No. 2 Connecticut and No. 3 Rutgers.
So how does Georgetown prepare for such national powerhouses in a game Thursday night against 0-8 Fordham? Intensity is the key, suggests sophomore forward Jaleesa Butler.
“These early games are huge as far as learning the ups and downs, dos and don’ts of getting a win,” she said. “We have to come out with a level of intensity and keep it up the entire game.”
Defensive intensity was indeed the formula for success against Towson. Trailing 33-25 in the opening minutes of the second half, Georgetown abandoned its zone defense in favor of a more aggressive man-to-man, extending its suffocating pressure the length of the court. The move forced 11 Towson turnovers in the next 12 minutes, many of which led to easy Hoya lay-ups.
Look for Georgetown to use its man-to-man and full court defenses early and often against Fordham, which has struggled with turnovers all season. The Hoyas also have a marked advantage in the post with versatile 6’5’’ senior captain Aminata Diop poised to create match-up problems for less athletic Ram defenders. Another Georgetown advantage is one of the team’s most significant: depth.
While only 1 or 2 of Fordham’s backups earn significant minutes, Georgetown has benefited from the consistent contribution of its bench, regularly utilizing 4 or 5 players for at least ten minutes per contest. Georgetown’s bench outscored Towson’s 27-11.
“The bench has the same mentality as the starters,” Butler said, expressing an attribute that will aid Georgetown against the strongest Big East teams. For now, though, the Hoyas’ focus rests squarely on Fordham and Thursday night. As for Butler’s mindset against the winless Rams: “Get ‘em while they’re down.”
