Tigers Improve to 13-0; Off to Best Start in Jeff Nickel Era

GEORGETOWN, Ky. – The No. 23 Georgetown College women's basketball team (13-0) made it 13 straight wins with a 105-67 victory over Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (4-9) in Davis-Reid Alumni Gym on Friday night.  

The 13-0 start is the best start for a Tiger team in the Jeff Nickel era, as the previous two squads held a 12-1 record through their first 13 contests. The 2024-25 team began the season 17-1 overall, and is the current marker to beat through 18 games.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After missing their opening three shots, the Tigers found the bottom of the basket with Kayra Freeman's first layup of the night at the 8:23 mark. Mt. Vernon and Georgetown both hit six field goals each in the first quarter, with the two-point difference resting in the two foul shots the Cougars hit. The Tigers trailed 16-14 at the end of the first quarter, the first time they've trailed through the opening 10 minutes this season. They were tied at 17 after one quarter against Union Commonwealth.

Georgetown separated and did so quickly to start the second quarter. The Tigers rattled off an 11-0 run to take a 25-16 advantage in just under three minutes of game play. Mt. Vernon countered back, cutting it to a four-point game at 31-27 with just over three minutes to go in the half. In total, five shots from distance fell for Georgetown in the second, who also sank all eight free-throws. The 45-32 lead at the break was highlighted by Kayra Freeman's 3-pointer buzzer beater.

The third quarter was the lone frame in which the starters outscored the bench as both Daisy Gale and Daysha Reid added six points. Freeman and Anna Long added four points each, who fended off the Cougars' opening four-minute push to start the second half. Mt. Vernon went on a 15-7 run to pull within 52-47 with just under six minutes left in the third. Georgetown called a timeout and rolled offensively from there. Jordan Day nearly had a double-double in the third quarter alone as the Tigers took a 74-52 lead into the fourth.

The fourth quarter saw Ashley Rojas come alive from range. The senior sank four 3-pointers, scoring 12 of her career-high 17 points in the fourth quarter alone, helping the Tigers to the 105-67 victory. In total, Georgetown went 7-of-11 from downtown in the fourth and eclipsed the 100-point mark for the seventh time this season in doing so. 

THE TEAM 
Georgetown shot 46.8% from the field. The Tigers were 16-35 (45.7%) from deep and shot 17-18 (94.4%) at the free-throw line, a season-best percentage. GC outrebounded MNVU, 43-28. The Tigers led in assists, 19-14, while both teams had one block. GC had 12 steals while the Cougars created none.

THE PLAYERS
* Daisy Gale finished with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds with four assists.
* Ashley Rojas had a career-high 17 points off the bench with two steals and one assist.
* Jordan Day added a 15-point and 14-rebound double-double, both career highs.

UP NEXT
The Tigers head to Florida to play a pair of neutral-site games in the Daytona Beach Shootout. On Tuesday, December 16, Georgetown squares off against (RV) William Carey (8-0).

Tip-off with the Crusaders is set for 3:00 p.m.