After a deep run in the WNIT last year, the Georgetown women’s basketball team had high expectations coming into the season. On Tuesday, the Hoyas (6-2) continued their early success by winning their fifth straight game over the LaSalle Explorers by a score of 71-40.
Georgetown has put on dominating performances in its last three games, beating each of their opponents by 25 points or more.
Although the Hoyas have relied heavily on their strong offense this year, it was the defense that came up big against LaSalle. The Hoyas suffocated the Explorers, forcing 36 turnovers, including a remarkable 18 steals by 10 different players, while holding LaSalle to a paltry 40 points.
“Jumping in the passing lane and trapping, we just force people into turning the ball over,” coach Williams-Flournoy said. “Our kids have really bought into that and really get excited to play defense, because they know, they’re going to run and I tell them in order to run we got to play defense.”
Along with the stingy defense, this year’s team has the ability to run and score in transition. The Hoyas have also been strong on the offensive glass, pulling down 20 rebounds against LaSalle and keeping many scoring opportunities alive.
Sophomores Rubylee Wright and Latia Magee made the most of their chances, scoring 15 and 13 points respectively. Both players have become integral parts of the team this year, with the 5-foot-3-inch Wright controlling the point, and Magee providing a steady stream of points, rebounds and assists.
Guard Ta’Shauna “Sugar” Rodgers, who has supplied an average of 20 points per game for the Hoyas, continues to play well in her first season at Georgetown She contributed a team high 17 points against LaSalle. Sugar is one of the best players to walk through Healy Gates in a long time for the women’s basketball team. Hoya fans should be excited about the future of this team. From the first eight games, it looks like Sugar will provide four years of extremely solid play.
Complementing the underclassman talent is senior forward Jaleesa Butler, who continues to anchor the team with her “lead by example” style of play and consistent contributions on the stat sheet.
“Jaleesa has definitely started to be more of a vocal leader… the last three games she’s had to play with sophomore point guards so she’s been trying to help them a little bit more,” Williams-Flournoy said.
The team is slowly putting together all of the tools necessary to compete with elite schools, especially those in the Big East. The women are getting ready for their biggest test of the season so far, Wake Forest.
“We want to continue to win, we understand that Wake Forest is a much better team than what we’ve been playing lately” Butler said. “But we just understand exactly what we have to do and we beat them last year in the [W]NIT, so we’re looking forward to beating them again this year.”
The Hoyas will face Wake Forest on Saturday in McDonough Arena.
Swarming Defense has been crucial to the Hoyas’ success
