Tia Magee has had unquestionable success through her first three seasons. The 6-foot-2 senior forward has started almost every game since her sophomore year, averaging 8.7 points and 4.5 boards per game last season. Her junior season was all the more impressive, considering she was battling back from an ACL tear.
But all of these achievements are not enough for Magee. She wants to continue to improve this season and make a memorable impact on the Georgetown women’s basketball program, specifically with regard to her offensive game.
“I’m a pretty hard worker,” Magee said. “I’m the defensive player on the team, but I think offensively … I’m going to be a lot more aggressive, putting up a lot more points and shots in the game.”
Head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy agrees with her, especially after Monica McNutt, last season’s lone senior, graduated this past spring.
“Tia’s got to score more,” Williams-Flournoy said. “Tia Magee has to score the points this year.”
McNutt’s departure marks a significant loss for the Hoyas. She ranked second on the team in scoring with an average of 11.2 points per game, not to mention first in both total steals (73) and her 85.9 shooting percent from the line. Still, with seven seniors leading the team this year, Magee has high expectations.
“One of the big things that we really want is to win the Big East,” Magee said.
“We’re always a contender, [and] we’re always beating some of the big teams.”
But a Big East title is just one of the objectives set for this season. The Hoyas will look to surpass their Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament from a year ago, where they fell to UConn despite Magee contributing a team-high 13 rebounds.
“We’ve managed to [get further in the NCAA Tournament] every year,” Magee said. “Now, we’re hoping to get past the Sweet 16.”
Magee doesn’t just want to lead the team on the court. She hopes to bring the players together off the court as well with her experience.
“I’m hoping to … just be there to uplift my teammates,” Magee said. “I’m a senior, I’m a veteran. I’ve been through this and been at the bottom and been at the top. I want to be there as an example to the young ones to show that you can do it and not hold your head down low.”
Whatever the season holds for the Hoyas, Magee’s priority is enjoying it with her teammates as they grow together.
“Women’s basketball is like a journey,” Magee said. “It’s more about the bonding with girls, maturing and growing with people … as a team, I hope we grow and mature, and we use basketball as that tool.”
