Now that it has been more or less approved, Georgetown desperately needs funds to build the IAC. The estimated final cost is $60-65 million and a decent chunk of that will come from the smaller donations from people like, well, us. I imagine a lot of the big money donors have withheld their funds because of the approval process so hopefully they'll come out of the woodwork soon.

As I've posted elsewhere, please do not give to the IAC at the expense of your Hoop Club donations. McDonough is rightly worried about this. The team needs current use funds to operate. If you can give beyond your annual HHC donation, an IAC donation is of course, very welcome.

To give to the IAC:

ONLINE
1. Go to http://giving.georgetown.edu and click MAKE A GIFT
2. Where it says DIRECT YOUR GIFT, select OTHER
3. In the drop down box, put Intercollegiate Athletic Center (or Athletic Training Facility as that's the current cost center name).
4. If you want to be extra certain, put it in the special instructions as well.
5. Gift Accounting will send you a receipt for your gift. If it is not correct, call Gift Accounting at 202-687-1690.

BY MAIL
1. Go to http://giving.georgetown.edu/mailinformpdf/document/1242762089543/OnlineGivingForm.pdf to download the form
2. On the form, write in your desired recipient under OTHER
3. Make your check out to Georgetown University (it helps to put your recipient under the Memo field of your check)
4. Send it to Georgetown University, Gift Processing, Department 0734, Washington, DC 20073-0734
5. Gift Accounting will send you a receipt for your gift. If it is not correct, call Gift Accounting at 202-687-1690.

BY PHONE
1. Call 1-800-424-2795
2. Gift Accounting will send you a receipt for your gift. If it is not correct, call Gift Accounting at 202-687-1690.

It's been awhile.

It's also been a rollercoaster for the Lady Hoyas.

But a major goal has been accomplished - the Hoyas secured a double bye (first time ever) in the Big East Tournament this past weekend with a victory over Syracuse. Yesterday's heartbreaking loss in McDonough to St. John's merely determined seeding. The Hoyas head to Hartford this weekend with the #4 seed in hand.

The Hoyas will play Saturday at Noon ET on ESPNU. Their possible opponents are West Virginia (5), Syracuse (12) or Providence (13) - all of whom we have defeated this season:

1/15 vs. Syracuse - W 69-42
1/24 @ West Virginia - W 64-54
2/18 vs. Providence - W 66-39
2/25 @ Syracuse - W 65-62

If we win Saturday, we will likely have a rematch against Notre Dame. Although our game against them in January wasn't pretty, neither team has changed much since last season and I know we can beat them.

LET'S GO HOYAS!

It's been mentioned in a few threads but I figured we should give it it's own location.

Bid often on tons of autographed Hoya swag (including a shirt autographed by Obama and Biden), dinner with Rich Chvotkin at Chadwicks and tickets to both Hoyas games (including BIG EAST Tournament tix) and a number of other sporting events.

http://guhoyas.cstvauctions.com/gallery.cfm

All proceeds from the auction go to benefit all of the 29 sports that comprise Georgetown Athletics.

So here we stand late in the Big East season. The Hoyas currently sit at 3rd place in the conference (8-3, 19-5) behind Notre Dame and UConn and are currently ranked 14/13. It has been up and down this season for the Hoyas but we've finally got some momentum going which is key as we face UConn in Storrs on Saturday. Our Hoyas have been one of UConn's toughest competitors the last few seasons playing them close several times and nearly knocking them out of the Sweet 16 in last year's tournament. Though they don't have a marquee player this year, UConn is still managing to get it done. As long as the Hoyas play their game, they can win.

In player news, Sugar Rodgers was named to both the Wooden Midseason Top 20 and the USBWA Midseason watch list. Tia Magee scored her 1000th career point against Cincinnati on February 4th.

Saturday's game is at 4PM ET and may be picked up by MASN/Big East Network. The Hoyas then visit Villanova during the week before heading back to McDonough for Senior Day on 2/18. We have a LOT of seniors graduating this year so please come out to support them!

After a disappointing start to the Big East season with losses to DePaul and Notre Dame at home, the 19/17 Lady Hoyas have bounced back in epic fashion with monster wins against Syracuse (69-42) and at Marquette (67-39). Sugar Rodgers padded her stats as the Big East's leading scorer (19.9 points per game) with 23 and 10 points respectively in the two games. Tia Magee continues to contribute in all aspects of points, rebounds, steals and assists. Rubylee Wright also had her season high with 15 points against Cuse.

Although these last games are a sign that the Hoyas are back where they should be, the road remains rough. Two of our next three games are against ranked teams as we face #18 Louisville at home, go to Morgantown and then return to play #7 Rutgers in McDonough.

Please come out on Sunday if you can to see the game against Louisville. Tip is at 5PM. They always play us well and we could use all the fans we can get. And yes, if you're a Giants fan you have my permission to leave at halftime to make it home for kickoff because well, I have to as well. But if you're not, you have no excuse to stay home. Tickets remain only $5 to support these fantastic women!

It has been a heck of a few weeks for the Lady Hoyas since my last update. The #15 Hoyas have had 3 monster wins since mid-December starting with a 71-46 thrashing of the then #7 Miami Hurricanes in McDonough. Sugar Rodgers led the way with 24 points, Tia Magee followed with 13, Rubylee Wright with 10 and Sydney Wilson with 12 rebounds.

This performance carried them into the Blue Sky Classic in New Hampshire over winter break. The Hoyas defeated Vermont 65-53 with 34 points from Sugar in the first game. In the second game, the Hoyas trounced Dartmouth 77-38 with Sugar OUTSCORING Dartmouth with 39 points. Right now, this is Sugar Rodgers' world and we're just living in it. Sugar was named both tournament MVP and Big East Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Not too shabby.

Hopefully this momentum will continue as the Hoyas play ranked teams in 2 of their next 3 games. Tonight, they host #20 DePaul in McDonough then travel to South Florida on Saturday. The McDonough showdown of the year will be next Tuesday, January 10th when we face the #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. We've had success against ND in recent years so here's hoping it continues!

Regardless, the Hoyas NEED YOUR SUPPORT. I know tonight may be short notice especially since we all need naps after coming back to work but PLEASE try to come out to McDonough tonight and/or next Tuesday. These girls are amazing and deserve it! Tickets are again ONLY $5.

While many are focusing on the upcoming men's game against Memphis Thursday night, an absolutely HUGE Lady Hoyas game is being overlooked. The #17 Hoyas are taking on the #7 Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday night in McDonough. We lost a heartbreaker to them in overtime last season and we need to avenge it.

Sugar Rodgers has had a fantastic few weeks and Tia Magee has long been in midseason form. Pair these with the awesome freshman talents of Taylor Brown, the sweet shooting of Rubylee Wright and the interior force that is Sydney Wilson and you've got a lineup to die for.

I know the 5PM start time is an impediment to many. It's Christmas week - work isn't getting done and drinking can wait two more hours. Metro to Rosslyn or Dupont and take GUTS if you don't want to drive. Take the G2, take one of the buses that stops on Reservoir, walk from the Circulator, whatever. Just get yourself there and yell loud for our very deserving Hoyas!

Remember, tickets are ONLY FIVE DOLLARS and TWO for kids. The more Hoyas fans in the house the better.

Phew. That's all I can say. Much like the men's team on Saturday, the Lady Hoyas (#17 AP) got more of a fight than we expected against GW in McDonough on Sunday afternoon. Also like the Howard game, we won 59-50. Sugar's clutch 18 point performance gained her Big East player of the week honors. Tia Magee again slid under the radar with 9 points, 13 rebounds and 5 steals (the last two tied her career highs in a game). Sunday's victory comes after another close one against Rider on December 4th and a 82-54 pounding of Pittsburgh in the Hoyas' Big East road debut. The Hoyas now stand at 9-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

There was a surprisingly large crowd on McDonough on Sunday although a fair amount may have been there for Kids Day. Nevertheless, it was a promising sight. I am not optimistic though for our next game against the #7 Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday 12/21 in McDonough at 5PM. We lost a heartbreaker to the Canes in Coral Gables last season and a win over them here would be a huge resume builder heading into the incredibly tough Big East season just after New Years. I am blessed to work near campus so I'll be there screaming my head off as usual. I hope some of you can make it out (nobody gets any work done right before Christmas anyway).

What a difference a little time can make. The #20 (AP) Lady Hoyas are back in the swing of things after a rough start to the 2011-12 season. Coming off two tough losses on the road to Maryland and LSU, the Hoyas were looking to bounce back into form and did so with a 66-36 pounding of Houston a week and a half ago. The win provided great momentum heading into Las Vegas for the Lady Rebel Roundup where we faced off against then #10 Georgia.  Sugar Rodgers relocated her mid-season form and dropped 23 points and Tia Magee continued to set the pace with 14 of her own in the Hoyas' 64-56 win over the Bulldogs. It was the first ever meeting between Georgetown and Georgia and also provided Coach Flo with a win over her former boss (Coach Flo was a Georgia assistant for several years).

The win over Georgia put the Hoyas into the tournament's championship game against unbeaten UNLV.  Unlike the men's tournament at UNLV, the home team would not prevail.  In front of a strong Hoya crowd including Greg Monroe and Brendan Gaughan, the Hoyas took the Lady Rebel Roundup title with 64-45 thrashing. Sugar scored 16 and was named tournament MVP and Tia Magee scored 12 points.

Sugar's performance gained her Big East honor roll recognition this week but Tia Magee deserves it just as much if not more. During Sugar's slump it was Tia who kept the Hoyas together in some very tough games. She may not have scored as much but her other efforts on both ends of the court definitely deserve some props.

The Hoyas travel up to Baltimore tomorrow night to take on Coppin State followed by a home game on Sunday at 2PM against Rider before starting Big East season against Pitt next week.  Please come out to McDonough on Sunday to see the Hoyas! Tickets are only $5. How can you top that? 

Greetings Casualites,

Another basketball season is upon us which also means another womens' basketball season is upon us. The Lady Hoyas ended last year on a huge high despite losing to UConn in the NCAA Sweet 16. The Hoyas entered the season ranked 10 in the AP poll and 11 in the USA Today poll. After losing only ONE player (albeit a major contributor in Monica McNutt), the Hoyas also ranked #10 in Sports Illustrated's preseason preview.

Friday's home opener only drew 700 to McDonough to see the Hoyas earn a hard-fought 11 point victory over Longwood. There were definitely kinks to iron out but we were optimistic entering College Park yesterday to face #11/10 Maryland. Those hopes were soon dashed when the Hoyas faced a very much improved Terrapin team.  There's no way of painting it nicely - we got beat. Star player Sugar Rodgers was scoreless until 12 minutes into the 2nd half and was one of three Hoyas to foul out. It is hard to beat a team three times in a calendar year and Maryland proved just that. They were ready for our every move.  Hopes are that this loss will energize the Hoyas as they head to Baton Rouge on Wednesday night to take on the #21/22 LSU Tigers.

No need to be pessimistic though - the season is only 2 games old and the future looks bright for the Hoyas.  Freshman Taylor Brown, a DC high school standout, has already made an impact and Coach Flo has signed a stellar 2012 class.

After LSU, the Lady Hoyas face 2 more ranked teams and play in tournaments in Las Vegas and New Hampshire before starting Big East season on January 3rd. The next home game is Saturday versus Houston at 1PM in McDonough. We beat the Cougars by FORTY last year.  There are zero conflicts with men's home games this season so you have no excuse not to check out the team. Tickets remain only $5 so come on out and support your Lady Hoyas!

So here we are - Georgetown vs. UConn Round 3. As many have said, it is very hard to beat a team three times in a season. But that statement isn't the only reason why Georgetown could and should win on Sunday. It's because if there is ever a time and place for this UConn team to lose, it is in Philadelphia this weekend.

Continue reading this post »

Sugar Rodgers.  via DeseretNews.com

So here we stand. The Hoya men have already bowed out of the NCAA Tournament but that doesn't mean the end of Hoya basketball this season. The Lady Hoyas are alive and well in the women's NCAAs and now more than ever, it's time to rally around them.

(More After the Jump)

Continue reading this post »

Sorry for the delay.

The #17 (AP)/ 19 (USA Today) Lady Hoyas are playing the always tough yet unranked Louisville Cardinals in Kentucky as I write this. As you know the ladies managed a HUGE upset of West Virginia last week in McDonough before destroying Seton Hall in Jersey over the weekend. The Hoyas now stand at 17-5 (5-3 BE) which puts them in a four way tie for 5th in the conference, 1/2 a game behind Rutgers (who we lost to in December).

PLEASE come out after the men's game against Provy on Saturday to see the Lady Hoyas take on Cincinnati at 3PM in McD. Cincy is quite terrible so a blowout is hopeful.

The women then travel to Tampa on Tuesday to take on South Florida.

The Lady Hoyas (now ranked 19 in the AP) lost a heartbreaking game in South Bend last Tuesday only to rebound with a 60-44 thrashing of Villanova in front of a packed McDonough crowd. There is a HUGE Big East matchup tonight on the Hilltop with the Hoyas hosting #8 West Virginia at 7PM ET. PLEASE come out if you can and if not, catch the game either on CBS College Sports or on WGTB with FLHoya making his second color appearance.

After tonight the ladies head up 95 for a matchup against Seton Hall at 2PM on Saturday and then off to Louisville on Tuesday the 1st.

Don't know if anyone here was planning on going to the UConn game after the men play Cuse but if you were, tickets are sold out on GUHoyas. I made the mistake of waiting until the first week of January (god forbid...for a women's game no less...UMD didn't sell out until gameday) to get tix and couldn't until contacting the ticket office. So if you want to go, contact Alleva and the ticket office or you're SOL (because UConn fans suck).

A largely non-eventful week has ended for the Lady Hoyas [now 16 (AP)/17 (USA Today)]. Their only game was this past Saturday where they won a squeaker at Providence. Monica McNutt posted her 1000th career point and set a career high with 11 rebounds. The team faces an always tough Notre Dame (10 USA Today/11 AP) in South Bend tonight. The game is at 7PM ET on CBS College Sports so be sure to at least flip from the men's game during breaks. The ladies will be returning home on Saturday to face Villanova at McDonough. The game is at 2PM and seeing as how there's no men's conflict, there's no excuse not to come. If you can't make it, listen on WGTB as a Casualite will be guesting as the color man (not me...I did it last home game and I sucked).

Despite demolishing a then-ranked Syracuse team last Tuesday in McDonough, the Lady Hoyas dropped a double overtime heartbreaker to Marquette on Saturday ending their 21 game home winning streak. Foul trouble killed the team late in the second half with the top 3 scorers notching 4 fouls and two of them fouling out during the overtime periods. The loss dropped the team to 18 (AP)/19 (USA Today) but then again, outside of the top 2-3 teams, the rankings don't matter. They basically just recognize the 25 or so best teams in WBB.

This week the Lady Hoyas are enjoying a week long break before they face the Friars (is their a female equivalent?) in Providence on Saturday and head to South Bend next week. Next home game isn't until 1/22 vs. Nova (and since there's no men's conflict, you have no excuse not to come.)

Waited until tonight to post since 1. I took my time coming home from NYC today.  I won't talk about the game but I will say shortly after leaving Mario Batali's EPIC Eataly, I went into the Yankees store in 5th Avenue. Who is in the back buying a jersey but...Mario Batali.  He's much skinnier in person. That was the best thing about yesterday. That and the knish I had at MSG. There was a game yesterday? What?

MOVING ON.

2. I also waited to post until after the Lady Hoyas DEMOLISHED Cuse 80-62 in McDonough tonight. We still have turnover issues but we had fantastic defense tonight paired with 27 points for Monica McNutt and 24 for Sugar Rodgers. That should hopefully push the Lady Orange (who wear a Texas shade of orange) out of the polls. The Lady Hoyas are ranked 14 (USA Today)/15 (AP).

The only problem was that we were outnumbered and outcheered AGAIN. Next game is Saturday at 2PM in McDonough against Marquette. The men have an early tip (11AM) versus WVU so there's no reason you can't come out to McD after the game to cheer on the Lady Hoyas.

It's been a rough week for the Lady Hoyas with losses at Miami and Rutgers causing the team to drop to 19 (USA Today)/20 (AP) and an 8-3 record. The Miami game was plagued by 23 turnovers which led to 25 points for the Hurricanes. The struggle against Rutgers was rebounding and a monster game by Rutgers sophomore Monique Oliver who tabbed 21 and 17 against the Hoyas. The ladies turned it around on Saturday though with a fine 81-54 showing at Rider. The team was led by Adria Crawford's 19 points and Alexa Roche's 14 second half points.

A quiet finals week awaits the Lady Hoyas with their next home game on Sunday at 2PM against Missouri State in McDonough. I won't be able to make it but hopefully some of you locals can make it out (let the possible snowfall be damned!) to cheer on the team. Another home game awaits on Wednesday 12/22 against Coppin State at 3:30PM.

I probably won't be updating again until after the holidays when the Lady Hoyas will face two tough tests before the start of the Big East season - a road game on 12/28 at Houston and what should be a good home game on 12/30 versus Clemson where I'll be back in McDonough screaming my head off.

I've been asked by the powers that be to update you Casualites with the latest on the Lady Hoyas. I know most of you will just ignore both the Lady Hoyas and I what I have to say about them but hopefully some of you will at least take notice.

The Hoyas currently stand at 7-1 and are ranked 11/12 (AP/USA Today) [no love] after winning 64-49 at Wake Forest on Saturday night. They've managed to knock off two ranked teams already this season: Maryland in McDonough and Tennessee (then ranked #4) in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands (the Lady Hoyas ended up winning their division and star player Sugar Rodgers was named MVP).

The only problem with the Lady Hoyas this season (like every other season) is the lack of support. Other than the band, there are maybe 20 people who attend games regularly. Other than the Maryland game, you're lucky to get 100-200 people in McDonough. When the support is there, it has helped carry the women to great wins over Notre Dame last year and Maryland a few weeks ago. I implore you guys if you're anywhere near DC to come out to a game sometime (and not just the UConn game after the men play Syracuse in February).

The Lady Hoyas are currently in the middle of a 4 game road trip. They play at Miami tonight and face their first conference test against at Rutgers on Thursday. Next home games are 12/19 vs. Missouri State and 12/22 vs. Coppin State. I sadly have family obligations that will prevent me from attending them so I hope some of you will attend and cheer like hell in my absence.

I posted this on the Hoop Club blog but I'm trying to circulate it wherever possible because, well, they do.

The Unsung Heroes of the Hilltop

I arrived on the Hilltop in the fall of 2002 a hardcore fan of men's college basketball but just a casual women's basketball fan. I knew UConn, Tennessee and Stanford but not much else. Over my four years, I attended games sporadically in McDonough but other than future WNBA player Rebekkah Brunson, I never found much to inspire any lasting dedication. Changes were quickly apparent though upon the hiring of Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy in 2004 shortly after John Thompson III took over the men's team. The entire women's program seemed to grow up over night. Gone were the raffles during timeouts and a plodding offense that lived behind the arc and instead there was a faster, fiercer team driving opponents mad with a ferocious full court press. The improved game on the court led to recruiting victories off it with Coach Flo quickly having her pick of the DC area's elite players.

The new look Hoyas certainly grabbed my attention and I found myself going to more and more games as time progressed. A run to the elite 8 in the 2009 Women's NIT and talk of a hot incoming shooting guard named Sugar Rodgers gave me high hopes for the 2009-10 season. Boy did the Lady Hoyas deliver. After struggling in their first three games the Hoyas then put together a remarkable 16 game winning streak including a win at previously unbeaten Syracuse and a hard-fought victory over Louisville (the 2009 national runner-up) in McDonough. The Lady Hoyas capped off an undefeated home season with a decisive 76-66 win over Notre Dame on Senior Day in front of a sellout crowd. The atmosphere that day was absolutely electric and surely contributed to the biggest win in Lady Hoya history. The Hoyas' second round loss to Baylor in the NCAA Tournament was a heartbreaker but was definitely a sign of even more good things to come. Sugar Rodgers raked in the accolades including BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and an Honorable Mention AP All-American designation. In addition, Coach Flo was named Female Coach of the Year by the Black Coaches and Administrators.

Expectations for the Hoyas are incredibly high this season but I know they are more than up to the task. And while Sugar Rodgers leads the highlight reel most nights, each member of the Lady Hoyas has their shining moments. Whether it is a clutch rebound on defense, a crucial free throw at the end of the game or even starting cheers from the bench, every single team member contributes something special. Say what you want about them but these girls have guts.

Tuesday night's 53-45 victory over Maryland was a microcosm of Lady Hoyas basketball - there will be some tense moments but the Hoyas will never give up and will fight through any obstacle that enters their path. Sugar Rodgers was the star of the game especially with her clutch shooting down the stretch but Rubylee Wright was definitely the unsung hero. Suffering through leg cramps during most of the 2nd half (and getting massaged every timeout), Rubylee was tenacious on both ends of the court and we could not have won the game without her. The turnout by both students and fans alike was one of the best I've seen in 8 years of attending games in McDonough.

Along with last year's victory over Notre Dame, Tuesday's game showed what every game in McDonough could be like with more support for a well-deserving team. We have the potential to have one of the best home court advantages in the country. Please come see the Lady Hoyas and help keep their 17 game home winning streak going by coming out to McDonough on Friday night to see the Hoyas take on LaSalle. Tipoff is at 7PM. I hope to see each and every one of you at a game this season. The Lady Hoyas need and more importantly, deserve our support.