Gale's Career-High 33 Lifts Tigers Past No. 3 Wildcats

GEORGETOWN, Ky. – The (RV) Georgetown College women's basketball team (17-5, 2-4 MSC) knocked off No. 3 Bethel University (20-3, 5-2 MSC) 73-70 as Davis-Reid Alumni Gym celebrated its 100th year anniversary on Saturday afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
After both sides had a slow start offensively, Georgetown turned up its scoring prowess on the other end of the media timeout. Clinging to a 5-4 advantage, the Tigers went on a 13-2 run to jump to an 18-8 lead with just 2:24 to play in the first. The 3-point shot proved effective for Georgetown, who went 5-of-12 from distance in the opening frame, commanding a 21-11 lead at the end of it.

The second quarter brought a trading of baskets until Bethel called the first timeout of the game at the 7:18 mark of the period. The break did little for the Wildcats as it allowed the Tigers to build on their growing lead over the next four minutes. Except for a less than a minute stretch in the first quarter, Georgetown led from start to finish, opening a 15-point advantage with 3:27 to play in the half. The lead was stretched from 38-23 with Daisy Gale's 3-pointer. Bethel cut into the lead and made it a 38-29 game at the break.

In the third, Daisy Gale put up 12 of her career-high 33 to help ease the Tigers into the final quarter. Both sides scored 20 apiece, which made it a 58-49 contest heading into the fourth.

Things got interesting in the fourth. Bethel's offense continued to improve and scored a game-high 21 points in the final 10 minutes, nearly tying the game down the stretch. After Daisy Gale's bucket at the 4:00 mark of the fourth made it a 72-63 game, the offense stalled. Bethel used a 7-0 run to cut it to a 72-69 game. With just a minute to play, the Wildcats corralled the ball and had a chance to tie, but Gale came from behind to swipe away her second steal of the night and all but sealed victory. Georgetown's starters played all 10 minutes, helping guide the Tigers to the 73-70 win.

THE TEAM 
Georgetown shot 39.7% from the field. The Tigers were 12-30 (40.0%) from deep and were 11-14 (78.6%) at the free-throw line. GC was outrebounded by BU, 43-37. The Tigers also led in assists, 17-11, while the Wildcats had more blocks, 3-1. BU had nine steals to GC's six.

THE PLAYERS
* Daisy Gale put up a career-high 33 points with eight rebounds and five assists.
* Anna Long had 11 points and added four rebounds with two steals.
* Kayra Freeman added 10 points with three rebounds and two steals.

UP NEXT
The Tigers take on #24 Lindsey Wilson (17-4, 4-2 MSC) on Monday, February 2.

Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. against the Blue Raiders in Davis-Reid Alumni Gym, as is the makeup game from the originally scheduled meeting on January 24.