Alaska News

Butler's 17 points, 14 boards lift Georgetown over Nicholls State

After a sluggish start, the Georgetown women's basketball team cruised to a tournament-opening victory Tuesday in the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.

Natalie Butler spearheaded the 67-55 win over Nicholls State with her fourth double-double in five games. The 6-foot-5 freshman proved a problem in the post for the Colonels, scoring 17 points and pulling in 14 rebounds.

The win earned Georgetown a spot against UAA in Wednesday's championship game at 5 p.m.

Georgetown (3-2), which also got 16 points from Andrea White and 10 rebounds from Faith Woodard, won the rebounding battle 49-32, but struggled to make short-range shots in the first half. The Hoyas trailed 24-15 with 7:52 to play in the opening stanza, but rallied to trail 28-26 at the half.

After shooting 34.5 percent from the field in the first half, Georgetown found some rhythm and shot 48.5 percent in the second half while pulling away for a comfortable win.

Nicholls State (3-2), nailed six 3-pointers in the first half, but couldn't keep the hot shooting up throughout. Led by a game-high 18 points from Emani White (four 3-pointers), the Colonels shot 31.3 percent from the field, having to settle for long-range shots most of the game.

K.K. Babbin added 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Nicholls State, with Jenny Nash pitching in 13 points.

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The Colonels will play UC Riverside for third place at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday.

NICHOLLS STATE -- Scott 0-3 0-0 0, Lilly 4-10 1-2 9, White 5-21 4-4 18, Babin 4-16 0-0 11, Nash 5-11 0-0 13, Arnick 1-1 0-0 2, Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Ellis 0-0 0-0 0, Morrison 0-1 0-0 0, Guillory 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 20-64 5-6 55.

GEORGETOWN -- White 6-11 4-4 16, Woodard 3-14 1-2 7, Butler 7-15 3-4 17, McCormick 3-9 0-0 9, Powell 3-6 1-1 7, King 1-1 0-1 3, Freedman 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 0-0 0-0 7, Mutton 0-0 0-0 0, Cooper 0-0 0-0 0, Vitalis 3-6 2-2 8. Totals: 26-62 11-14 67.

Three-point goals -- Nicholls 10-33 (White 4-15, Babin 3-11, Nash 3-6, Morrison 0-1), Georgetown 4-11 (McCormick 3-7, King 1-1, Powell 0-1,Woodard 0-2). Total fouls -- Nicholls 12, Georgetown 13 23, UAA 31. Fouled out -- None. Rebounds -- Nicholls 32 (Lilly 9), Georgetown 49 (Butler 14). Assists -- Nicholls 18 (Babin 7), Georgetown 16 (Powell 4). Turnovers -- Nicholls 13 (Babin 4), Georgetown 15 (Powell 3, Vitalis 3). Steals -- Nicholls 5 (Five with one), Georgetown 7 (Powell 2). Blocks -- Nicholls 3 (Lilly 2), Georgetown 5 (Butler 3). Officials -- Graves, Corson, Leitch. A -- 3,724.

Nicholls State 28 27 -- 55

Georgetown 26 41 -- 67

Results and schedule

At Sullivan Arena

Women's Tournament

Tuesday's results

Georgetown 67, Nicholls State 55

UC-Riverside vs. UAA

Wednesday's games

Consolation -- Nicholls State vs. UC-Riverside-UAA loser, 2:30 p.m.

Championship -- Georgetown vs. UC-Riverside-UAA winner, 5 p.m.

Men's Tournament

Wednesday's games

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Tulsa vs. Indiana State, 7:30 p.m.

Texas Christian vs. UAA, 10 p.m.

Thursday's games

Pepperdine vs. Green Bay, 5:30 p.m.

Denver vs. Harvard, 8 p.m.

Anchorage Daily News

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