The GW women’s basketball team trailed Georgetown University for most of the first half but prevailed 72-54 in its season opener Monday night at the Smith Center.
With less than 10 seconds left in the first half and the Colonial women trailing 34-33, Chasity Myers made a steal off a trap near the endline and scored an easy layup as time expired to give GW the lead at the half.
GW would not relinquish the lead in the second half, outscoring the Hoyas 37-20 in the period.
“We were on a high from Chasity’s play at the end of the first half, then in the second half we kept running on them until they got tired and started fouling,” said GW forward Mandisa Turner, who tallied 19 points and four rebounds.
GW built a 55-44 advantage by the 11-minute mark of the second half, and Georgetown would get no closer than seven points for the remainder of the contest. The Colonial women answered a 4-0 Georgetown run, its longest of the second half, with a 9-4 run of their own with six minutes left in the game. Junior guard Elisa Aguilar scored all nine points in the run.
From the 10-minute mark to the six-minute mark in the second half, Aguilar hit four free throws, a pair of 15-foot jumpers from the left side and a three-pointer from just left of the top of the key. During that stretch, Aguilar accounted for a total of 11 straight GW points.
Aguilar, as had been the case in GW’s earlier exhibition victory, took control of the second half, scoring 17 of her game-high 29 in the period.
“Aguilar is a great player because she’ll do whatever it takes,” GW head coach Joe McKeown said.
Aguilar and Georgetown shooting guard Katie Smrcka-Duffy, who tallied a team-high 24 points, traded baskets back and forth for much of the night. Smrcka-Duffy was making her Georgetown debut. She transferred from North Carolina State University, where she was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year.
The Colonial women played stifling defense in the second half, holding the Hoyas to 20 points on 31 percent shooting.
The Colonial women’s shallow bench accumulated just one point and six rebounds in 35 total minutes. Forward Noelia Gomez, center Khadija Deas, and guards Marlo Egleston and Kristeena Alexander all were unavailable to play in the game.
“We have to play with the players we have,” Aguilar said.
GW was buoyed in the first half by Mandisa Turner’s 11 points. Myers scored 15 points while turning the ball over only once. Petra Dubovcova led the Colonial women with 10 boards to go along with six points.
GW faces the College of William & Mary at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Smith Center.
