Second-Half Comeback Falls Short at Georgetown, 65-60

Tuesday, January 2

Washington, D.C.

2 p.m.

Xavier University

8-5, 1-1

Georgetown

7-6, 2-1

Xavier

Georgetown

Second-Half Comeback Falls Short at Georgetown, 65-60

01.02.18 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Anniina Äijänen scored a career-high 17 points on Tuesday afternoon

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

WASHINGTON – Xavier women's basketball erased a 14-point second-half deficit at Georgetown, but came up short in pulling off the win - falling, 65-60, on Tuesday afternoon.

The Musketeers moved to 8-5 (1-1 BIG EAST), while the Hoyas improved to 7-6 (2-1 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• Xavier opened the game on a 7-0 run with Imani Partlow scoring five of the Musketeers points. Xavier led 16-8 at the first media timeout on 5-for-7 shooting before the Hoyas scored eight unanswered points to tie the game at 16. Georgetown led, 22-19, at the end of the quarter.

• The Musketeers opened the second quarter by using an 8-0 run capped by an A'riana Gray three-point play, giving Xavier a 27-22 lead. Georgetown responded by outscoring Xavier, 15-5, to end the half and take a five-point lead into the locker room.

• Anniina Äijänen led Xavier with eight points at the break, while Imani Partlow and A'riana Gray both added six. Georgetown held a 20-12 advantage on the glass at the half.

SECOND HALF

• Georgetown hit its first two shot attempts to open the stanza, taking a 41-32 lead and forcing a Xavier timeout. Georgetown led by as many as 14 (51-37) at the 3:15 mark before the Musketeers stormed back with an 11-0 run to get within three to close the quarter, 51-48.

• Xavier opened the fourth quarter by using a 6-3 run capped by a Jada Byrd layup to tie the game at 54. A three pointer by Morgan Smith with 5:49 left in the game gave the Hoyas a 57-54 lead they would never relinquish.

• The Musketeers got within two on an Anniina Äijänen three pointer at the 4:02 mark, but it would be the last field goal the Musketeers made in the game. Xavier went 0-for-2 from the floor to end the game with two turnovers.

NOTABLES

• Anniina Äijänen scored a career-high 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting with three 3-pointers. The senior forward added two rebounds, one assist and one block.

• Jada Byrd added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Imani Partlow and Deja Ross both added eight. Aaliyah Dunham finished the game with six points and a team-high four assists.

• Georgetown won the battle on the glass, 41-24. The Hoyas also outscored Xavier in second-chance points, 21-2. Georgetown pulled down 18 offensive rebounds in the game.

• Xavier held a 24-9 advantage in bench points and scored 11 points off of turnovers.

UP NEXT

• Xavier ends its three-game BIG EAST road swing at No. 21 Villanova on Friday, Jan. 5. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.