In their Wednesday night match, the Georgetown women’s basketball team rallied to overcome a nine-point deficit in the first half and beat the Pittsburgh Panthers (13-14, 5-9 Big East) 67-57, ending a two-game losing streak. A buzzer-beating three at the end of the first half by junior Alexa Roche changed the momentum of the game, allowing the women to mount a 19-point turnaround.
“Even though we were losing at the half, I think that definitely sparked us,” Roche said.
That spark was just what the No. 18 Hoyas (21-7, 9-5 Big East) needed after their slow start. Roche and junior Tommacina McBride, typically two quiet players, played a big part in the win, contributing 25 of the Hoyas’ points. In the absence of starter Adria Crawford due to an injured ankle, McBride stepped up and scored 10 points in the first half to keep the Hoyas alive. Head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy admits that they struggled in the first half, but got some much-needed help from these two players.
“Alexa Roche played tonight like she should have played [all season],” Williams-Flournoy said. “She can’t be inconsistent like that.”
Although some new players were in the limelight, regular headliner Sugar Rodgers was still a big contributor. Despite only putting up two points in the first half, the sophomore guard kept shooting and ended up being the high scorer for the team with 16 points. At one point in the second half, Rodgers netted four threes in four minutes and gave the Hoyas their first lead of the game. Soon after, Georgetown worked the ball to go on a 16-3 run. Thanks to a noteworthy defensive effort, they were able to extend the lead to as much as 13 points.
“We can’t live and die by the jump shot and that can’t dictate our game, because you’re not always gonna make the shot,” Williams-Flournoy said. “You know, but you can always play defense and you can always rebound.”
Although the Hoyas missed many first half opportunities, they buckled down and played solid defense, which allowed them to stay competitive against the offensive-minded Pittsburgh team. Both Roche and Rodgers as well as their support staff showcased this focus on Wednesday with their scrappy and relentless play. Georgetown had an impressive 17 steals, and forced Pittsburgh into 27 turnovers.
Next, the Hoyas will face No. 1 UConn on Saturday in McDonough. A win against the mighty Huskies would arguably be the biggest in program history. The last time the Hoyas played UConn in McDonough they lost by 19 points, but were leading late in the first half. Tipoff is at 2:30 p.m. for the already sold-out game.
