Rodgers breaks Big East record
Published 10:23 pm Wednesday, March 13, 2013
King’s Fork alum Sugar Rodgers took the opportunity of her last college game to leave one last mark on the record books. She surpassed 2,500 career points and broke the Big East Championship scoring record by putting up 42 against Villanova University in the second round on Saturday at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.
Unfortunately, the Hoyas, lacking an experienced supporting cast with which to surround Rodgers, fell to the Wildcats (21-9) by the score of 89-58. As Georgetown finishes 15-16 overall, they are not eligible for further tournament play.
Nevertheless, the way in which Rodgers reached the record tally of 42 was especially memorable.
With less than a minute to play and the game out of reach, Hoyas coach Keith Brown took Rodgers out of the game after she had scored 40 points. Dean Kenefick, associate athletic director for communications at Villanova, had told Wildcats head coach Harry Perretta that Rodgers simply had to pass 41 to break the record.
Perretta went to Brown and told him to put Rodgers back into the game to give her a chance. Brown did so, and then Perretta had one of his players intentionally foul Rodgers so she could get one chance to do it at the foul line. She drained both free throws.
Because the Big East will be reformed next year, Rodgers’ accomplishment will never be eclipsed.