Virginia Tech 56, Georgetown 47
Big East Tournament First Round
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com, 3/6/04
Hartford, CT -- Down 40-28 with 14 minutes to go, the Virginia Tech women exploded on Georgetown, outscoring the Hoyas 28-7 the rest of the way to grab the first-round win in the Big East Tournament. With the victory, the Hokies run their record to 22-6, dropping Georgetown to 13-15 on the year.
The Hokies entered the tournament as the #8 seed in the Big East. They had lost to #9 seed Georgetown earlier this season, getting whipped 70-50 by the Hoyas at Georgetown. The Hoyas still seemed to have Tech's number early in this game, breaking open a 13-13 tie with a 9-0 run to go up 22-13.
VT trailed 28-21 at the half, and Georgetown extended that lead to 40-28 with 14:58 remaining. That's when the Hokies suddenly came to life, spurred by their sophomore class of Kerri Gardin (14 points, 16 rebounds), Carrie Mason (14 points, 3 three-pointers, 4 steals), and Dawn Chriss (11 points, 3 steals).
The Hokies put on a 7-0 run to make it 40-35, and after Georgetown went up 43-37 with 10:09 to go on a Rebekkah Brunson layup, the Hokies blew up on the Hoyas, reeling off 17 straight points. When Dawn Chriss hit a layup to put Tech up 54-43 with 2:36 to go, Georgetown was done, left wondering what hit them.
If there was any question of the Hokies making the NCAA Tournament, this win removed all doubt. Virginia Tech now advances to the second round, where they'll face #1 seed Connecticut Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will not be televised.
================================================================================
Virginia Tech 56, Georgetown 47
Big East Tournament 1st Round
3/6/04, Hartford, CN
1st 2nd Tot
---------------------------------
VIRGINIA TECH 21 35 56
GEORGETOWN 28 19 47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(box score not yet available)
Click here for USA Today box score