Daytona Beach, Fla. – In an exciting matchup of undefeated teams, William Carey emerged victorious, handing #23 Georgetown its first loss of the season and holding the Tigers to their lowest point total of the year in a thrilling 68-61 victory
"What a defensive effort by our team," said Head Coach
Jessica Garriga. "We locked down the highest scoring team in the NAIA and held them to 61 points. Nothing says discipline and determination better than that! This was a hard-fought battle against a very talented team and I'm pumped. Glory to God and Go Crusaders."
William Carey jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, but Georgetown quickly battled back, narrowing the gap as the first quarter approached its final minutes. In a defensive showcase, the Lady Crusaders held Georgetown without a field goal during the last four minutes of the quarter, while their offense surged to close on a 9-2 run, ending the period with a 20-13 lead.
WCU maintained control in the second period, expanding their lead to a game-high 12 points at 27-15, thanks to a three-pointer from
Addyson Sherer midway through the quarter. However, Georgetown rallied late, cutting the deficit to 37-31 at halftime with a basket from Kayra Freeman just before the buzzer.
The third quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, marked by six lead changes. Georgetown fought back, briefly taking a 53-52 lead with under a minute remaining.
Shaneal Corpuz responded with a clutch jumper in the closing seconds, restoring William Carey's advantage at 54-53 as they headed into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter began with both teams experiencing a scoring drought that lasted nearly three minutes.
Alyssa Hillard finally broke the silence for Carey, giving them a 62-59 lead with just over three minutes to play. On the defensive end, Corpuz made a crucial block on Georgetown's next possession, leading to a layup by
Madelyn Ladner, which extended the lead to five points. The Lady Crusaders' defense continued to apply pressure, holding Georgetown to only one field goal over the final six minutes of the game to secure the victory.
Shaneal Corpuz made a significant impact, scoring eight of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, including a key layup with just 31 seconds remaining to put Carey up seven.
Madelyn Ladner contributed 14 points and a team-high 13 rebounds, while Sherer also added 14 points along with six assists, sinking four three-pointers.
William Carey shot 44.4% from the field, while limiting Georgetown to just 34.9%. Both teams were equal from beyond the arc, with William Carey making 7-of-19 attempts compared to Georgetown's 7-of-20. The Crusaders also won the rebounding battle, 40-37.
William Carey aims to maintain their momentum as they continue play in the Daytona Beach Shootout on Thursday, December 18, against #16 Carroll (Mont.). Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
