Women's Basketball Falls to Georgetown to Close Blue Sky Classic

Friday, December 30

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

Georgetown

Women's Basketball Falls to Georgetown to Close Blue Sky Classic

12/30/2011 9:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. - Georgetown's Sugar Rodgers scored 39 points, shattering both the Blue Sky Classic single-game and tournament records, as No. 15/16 Georgetown defeated Dartmouth, 77-38, in the final game of the 2011 Blue Sky Classic on Friday (Dec. 30).

Rodgers, who led the Hoyas to a 2-0 record in the tournament, set new Blue Sky record in tournament points (73), tournament three-point field goals (11) and points in a game (39). LaSalle also went 2-0 in tournament play while Dartmouth and Vermont both went 0-2 in the annual tournament.

Junior guard Faziah Steen (Detroit, Mich.) scored 15 points to lead Dartmouth (2-10) while freshman center Tia Dawson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) added eight rebounds. Steen was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Steen also earned all-tournament honors for her efforts throughout the tournament.

Nicola Zimmer (Chevy Chase, Md.) and Dawson combined for five early points in the second half to cut the Georgetown (12-2) lead to 36-23 before the first media timeout of the half. Zimmer seemed to have found her shooting touch during halftime, as she scored five of Dartmouth's first seven points, after being held scoreless in the first half.

Georgetown took a 50-25 lead at the 13:55 mark on a Rodgers trey and never looked back. Steen was able to cut into the lead slightly by converting all three of her free throw shots after being fouled while shooting a three-pointer at the 12:25 mark but the Big Green didn't closer than 20 points the remainder of the contest.

Steen led the Dartmouth offense in the first half, scoring each of Dartmouth's first eight points, including two triples. The Big Green took a 10-8 lead at the 14:23 mark on a bucket in the paint from Dawson.

Dartmouth was helped by its outstanding defensive effort in the first half. The Big Green players were in the mix for every rebound and were willing to scrap with the Hoyas in the paint for rebounds and 50-50 balls.

The Hoyas tied the game at 10-10 with foul shots from Tia Magee, which ignited a 21-0 run. Dawson ended the Big Green's nearly seven minute scoring drought with a pair of free throws at the 6:53 mark but Dartmouth was held without a field goal in the last 14 minutes of the half. Georgetown closed the half with a 22-3 run to take a 33-18 halftime lead. Steen led the Big Green with 10 first half points while Georgetown's Sugar Rodgers had a game-high 18 points to lead the Hoyas. Dawson led all rebounders with six first half boards.

Dartmouth women's basketball opens action in 2012 on Jan. 3 when it heads to Worcester, Mass., to take on Holy Cross. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Blue Sky Classic All-Tournament Team
Faziah Steen, Dartmouth
Tia Magee, Georgetown
Alexis Scott, LaSalle
Brittany Wilson, LaSalle
Lauren Buschmann, Vermont

MVP: Sugar Rodger, Georgetown

Big Green Sidelines
-Tonight's game is the second meeting between Georgetown and Dartmouth. The Big Green opened the season against the Hoyas during the 1979-80 season. The Hoyas defeated Dartmouth, 81-71.

-Georgetown is the first ranked opponents the Big Green have played this season.

-Vermont fell to LaSalle, 69-58, in the first game of the day.