Any mention of basketball at Georgetown this March would have most likely been met with furrowed eyebrows and exasperated sighs. The women’s basketball team, however, provided an unexpected spark on campus with a deep run in the WNIT. After earning a bid to the tournament and winning their first three games, the Hoyas lost to Boston College in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
Not letting the competitive Big East stop them, the Hoyas posted an impressive 20-14 record this season and went further than any women’s basketball team at Georgetown had ever gone in the postseason. The regular season included a sweep of archrival Syracuse and an impressive showing against undefeated powerhouse Connecticut, proving to be the turning point of the season.
Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy led a well-balanced team carried by senior Karee Houlette’s sharp-shooting from behind the arc, junior Jaleesa Butler’s intensity, and junior Shanice Fuller’s ball handling and precision passing.
After losing in the first round of the Big East tournament, the Hoyas opened the WNIT in McDonough Arena against Winthrop. Georgetown crushed the Eagles 73-45 as freshman Latia Magee, playing in only her second postseason game, led the team with 21 points.
The team then traveled to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest. Sophomore Monica McNutt poured in 23 points and Butler added 17 to blow by the Demon Deacons 72-61, advancing to the third round to face the Richmond Spiders in McDonough. Magee continued her tournament hot streak, scoring 15 points to go with Houlette’s 17 points, which included five from behind the three-point line.
The Hoyas could not fulfill the promise of a dream season, however, falling to BC 65-56.
