With four minutes left against Maryland-Eastern Shore, it looked like the Georgetown Women’s Basketball team was yet again loath to closing out an opponent. Memories of a team that struggled in big moments from last year were evoked. However, we are not looking at the 2014-15 Hoyas team.
“I think we’ve taken some of the things from last year and learned from it, especially coming off a pretty hard year,” says senior guard Katie McCormick. “I think we’re starting to execute more down the stretch. Our veterans are stepping up, and a little more leadership has helped us.”
Georgetown will look to build off of this going into today’s matchup with the Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0, ACC), who are coming off a game where they hit a program-record 14 three-pointers. Containing the Hokies’ hot shooting has been an emphasis in practice this week, but there has also been a renewed focus on hustle, energy, and effort. Head coach Natasha Adair believes it is paying dividends.
“What I see is a confidence, in year two,” said Adair. “A year ago, you’re still learning about your team, learning the philosophy. Now, they’re playing sure. Sure of themselves, sure of the system, and we talk about togetherness, that’s what it is, being a team.”
In preparation for Virginia Tech’s scorching offense, the Hoyas have worked on getting over screens, communication, and other measures of sticking to the Hokies’ shooters. McCormick, however, took a slightly more confident approach when asked about stopping Virginia Tech.
“We know they have shooters, but so do we,” McCormick said. “We gotta stay on them and they gotta stay on us. If we get out there with a hand up, contain their shooters, it’ll be a pretty good game.”
Expect Dorothy Adomako to be the center of the Hoya offense yet again. The talented sophomore guard led Georgetown with 23 points and seven rebounds against Maryland-Eastern Shore, and was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll. However, it is more than just Adomako’s play that stands out to Coach Adair.
“Dorothy has natural ability, but she works, says coach Adair.” “This is a kid that stays in the gym. If it’s not class, it’s basketball, and she put in so much time this summer on her development, on just knowledge of the game. She is a student of the game, and she never wants to stop learning.”
The key to the game for the Hoyas will center around their ability to fight over Hokie screens and contain the dribble penetration that allowed for so many open Virginia Tech shots in their last match. Adair also believes that the desire to protect home court will loom large for the Hoyas, bringing them closer together for the home opener.
“It’s not so much about what the Hokies are going to do,” says Adair. “We have to protect home court, we have to be disciplined defensively, because they are a veteran team. If we stay true to our rules defensively and what we want to do as a team, that will be good. We just have to set the tone. We have to win all the hustle plays, we have to set the stage on how hard we’re going to play for 40 minutes. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”
