Jan. 14, 2008

Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University women's basketball team (10-5, 0-2 BE) opens a three-game homestand when the Hoyas host fifth-ranked Rutgers (13-2, 3-0 BE) on Tuesday night, January 15 inside McDonough Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Live video and live stats will be available via www.guhoyas.com with Chuck Timanus and Dana Simonelli on the call.

Both team's defenses have been stingy. Rutgers ranks second in the BIG EAST allowing 48.3 points per game and the Hoyas rank fourth in the league giving up just 54.3 points per game. Both the Hoyas and the Scarlet Knights are ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense.

Prior to the two losses to start BIG EAST play, Georgetown started the season 10-3 overall for the first time under fourth year head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. Through the season's first 13 games, the Blue and Gray accumulated its best statistics - a 45.7 percent field goal percentage, 16.0 assists per game, scoring offense (67.9) and scoring defense (52.9) - under Coach Flournoy. Two of GU's first three losses came by a combined three points (HU & ECU).

The Hoyas finished non-league play shooting 45 percent from the floor while allowing just 52.9 points per game. Through the first two BIG EAST games, Georgetown has struggled from the floor shooting 34.5 percent from the floor while yielding 63. points per game.

The Hoyas have started the season 6-0 at home for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.

GU has gone 0-2 to start BIG EAST play in each of Coach Flournoy's first three seasons but each time, Georgetown has won its next league game.

Hoyas in the Series vs. Rutgers ... Rutgers has dominated the all-time series, 13-2 with RU winning six consecutive games. Both of Georgetown's victories over the Scarlet Knights have come on the road.

Last season, Rutgers shot 50 percent from the floor to Georgetown's 20 percent in a 71-41 RU win at The Rac. Essence Carson led four RU players in double figures with 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds.

Fast Breaks ... Georgetown ranks fourth in the BIG EAST allowing 54.3 points per game. The Hoyas have held seven opponents to under 53 points.

-- Georgetown is10-0 when they hold the lead with five minutes to go.

-- GU has had a higher field goal percentage than its opponent in 12 of the 15 games this season. Georgetown has also shot 50 percent or better in a half on 11 different occasions and finished a game shooting over 50 percent three times.

-- Senior co-captain and leading scorer Kieraah Marlow (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) connected on her 500th career field goal vs. Brown. She's made 45.8 percent of the field goals over her career (511-1115). She became the seventh member of the Hoya program to knock down at least 500 FG's. Marlow is one of three BIG EAST players to to rank in the top 15 in both scoring (16.2-10th) and rebounding (7.1-13th) (Angel McCoughtry-UofL & Jill Stephens-UC). Marlow has led the team in scoring in 11 of the team's 15 games this season.

-- Sophomore forward Jaleesa Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Alton [ill.]) has really come in during her sophomore season. Butler had her first career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds at Towson. Against East Tennessee State, Butler had her second career double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.

The St. Louis, Mo. native ranks second on the team and 14th in the league with 7.0 rebounds per game and ranks second on the squad with 8.5 points. Butler posted the best offensive game of her career with 20 points and nine field goals vs. Loyola Marymount.

Since entering the starting lineup eight games ago, Butler is averaging 11.9 points on 48 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Scouting Rutgers ... Rutgers (13-2, 3-0) came into the week ranked fifth in both the AP and USA Today-ESPN polls. Sophomore Epiphanny Prince and senior Matee Ajavon are averaging 14 and 11 points, respectively. The Scarlet Knights came into the week ranked second in the nation in scoring defense (48.3 ppg).