WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University women’s basketball team defeated the University of Delaware Blue Hens (19-13), 67-57, Friday evening in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) at McDonough Arena. With the victory the Hoyas improve to 16-15 on the season and advance to the second round of the tournament for the first time since 2009. Georgetown will host Duquesne University on Monday evening in the next round.
Senior forward Cynthia Petke (Yaounde, Cameroon/-/Chipola College) led the way tying her career high with 26 points as well as seven rebounds and five assists. She was followed by junior guard Dionna White (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) who had 16 points and a squad-best six assists. Senior center Yazmine Belk (Queens, N.Y./Nazareth Regional) pulled down a team-high 16 rebounds for her career high while also tallying eight points.
The Hoyas outrebounded the Blue Hens, 44-33, and forced 12 turnovers on five steals while committing just 11 turnovers of their own. GU shot 36.9 percent (24-of-65) for the game, but allowed Delaware 40.0 percent (22-of-55) shooting. Only one Blue Hen scored in double figures as Nicole Enabosi managed 15 points.
Petke opened the game on fire as she hit a 3-pointer on the first possession and cruised from there as GU built the eight-point lead on a second trey by the senior. Delaware answered back, but Petke continued to lead the squad as a layup made it 15-6 with 2:32 remaining in the first quarter.
The Blue & Gray would maintain a nine-point advantage until a free throw in the closing seconds of the stanza made it 19-11 at the end of the first.
Early in the second quarter, a 4-0 run cut it to four, 21-17. A jumper from sophomore guard Morgan Smith (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) stopped the momentum, but the Blue Hens came right back to make it a one-possession game. Another run would not come in the period as the Blue Hens hung around. A jumper from Belk gave the Hoyas a five-point lead late, but a layup with 45 seconds left made it 31-28 in favor of the Hoyas at the break.
Delaware cut it to two on a number of occasions as the third quarter began. However, a free throw from Petke sparked a 5-0 run as the Hoyas tried to pull away. Delaware answered with a bucket, but Petke knocked down a pair of free throws and then White nailed a 3-pointer to give GU it’s largest lead of the game to that point, 45-34. A jumper at the buzzer from White helped put the Blue & Gray in a good position with the 53-41 lead heading into the final quarter.
“In the third quarter, defense and getting stops was a big thing,” said Georgetown Head Coach James Howard. “Dionna White got a little offensive rhythm to her game, and DiDi Burton stepped up and hit a couple of big shots. That gave us a lead and a cushion with the advantage going forward.”
The Blue Hens looked to make a comeback in the fourth quarter as the squad quickly cut the Hoya advantage to eight, 58-47. It was senior guard DiDi Burton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College) who came back with a 3-pointer in the corner. Delaware would gain the edge though as the Blue Hens forced the Hoyas cold and looked to make a comeback.
Up by just seven with time running out on the shot clock, White hit a 3-pointer with three defenders on her to energize the crowd. She came up with the ball on the other end as the defense came up with another stop down the stretch.
In the final minute, a turnover and layup pulled Delaware within seven again. Following a timeout, Petke hit a pair of free throws but Delaware answered with a conventional three-point play. The Blue Hens were forced to foul and White sank both from the charity stripe. Delaware would have no other rebuttle as the Hoyas held on for the 67-57 victory.
The Hoyas will host the Dukes of Duquesne University on Monday evening at 7 p.m. in a second round matchup at McDonough Arena. Live stats and a webcast featuring Monica McNutt will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.