HARTFORD, Conn. – The third time was less than charming for the Georgetown women’s basketball team.

The Hoyas put up a tired defense against the Syracuse Orange’s inside attack as Georgetown (12-16, 7-10) fell 65-58 in the first round of the Big East Tournament last night.

“I thought we came out flat,” Georgetown head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. “We weren’t ready, and the players got what they deserved.”

Despite two regular season wins over 11th-seeded Syracuse (13-15, 7-10), sixth seed Georgetown flagged in the later stages of its first and only postseason game this year. The Hoyas were the only higher-seed upset in the first round.

“I wish I could give an answer,” Williams-Flournoy said of her team’s showing. “I’m stumped.”

In the two previous encounters this season, Georgetown broke away in the first half and withstood strong comebacks from Syracuse to hold on for the win. This time, however, the Orange matched the Hoyas’ play throughout the first half and capitalized on another late-game run to clinch their first postseason victory since 2002.

Georgetown continued its unlucky streak in Big East postseason play. The Hoyas last advanced past the opening round in 2001 with an overtime win against the Orange but could not go far this time with a colorless performance.

As in so many previous contests this season, Georgetown floundered against big-bodied post players capable of pushing around its forwards. Senior center Chineze Nwagbo ignited Syracuse with a 10-point run that broke a 49-49 tie and set the Orange on course for victory. The Hoyas lost their counterattack, senior forward Varda Tamoulianis, when she went into foul trouble with nine minutes left in the game and eventually fouled out with over three minutes remaining on the clock.

“The only thing [Tamoulianis] could have done better was to front her opponent,” Williams-Flournoy said. “This whole season has been about getting Varda to front on defense. Varda is not physical, and Chineze is very physical.”

The two teams traded field goals with each other throughout the first half. Georgetown held a slight edge at halftime, 34-31, due to Syracuse’s poor ball handling and 11 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Hoyas had more looks throughout the first half but could not convert their opportunities. Freshman forward Kieraah Marlow, the team’s leading scorer this season, was uncharacteristically sluggish in her effort on 1-for-6 shooting on the half.

“The good thing about playing them twice was that we had the best understanding of matchups coming into this game, and that helped us come out of the gates faster,” Keith Cieplicki, Syracuse’s head coach, said about his team’s improved performance in the first half. “Knowing we could contain [Marlow] better was a key to the game.”

The second half featured a tense start as both teams battled to take control of the scoreboard. Tamoulianis paced Georgetown with seven of the team’s first 11 points but faded out midway as she drew too many calls going up against Syracuse’s shooters. Her replacement, junior forward Christine Whitt, offered little offensive production to replace Tamoulianis.

Although senior guard Bethany LeSueur successfully penetrated inside for baskets, the Hoyas’ perimeter game failed to make an impression despite a number of opportunities throughout the half stemming from the Orange’s inability to grab offensive rebounds.

Things spiraled downward with eight minutes to play as Nwagbo’s run brought the score from 49-49 to 59-50 as Georgetown grew desperate trying to stop her and put its opponent on the free-throw line numerous times. Syracuse had 14 points from the stripe in the second half to Georgetown’s four, the strongest divergence in a statistically even game.

“After two losses, you’re tired and you don’t want to lose,” Nwagbo said. “I was just hungry. I wanted to win.”

Intangibles may also have played a role as Syracuse could count on support from its lively band and a small group of orange-clad fans while Georgetown looked rather friendless in the cavernous Hartford Civic Center. The Hoyas, according to Williams-Flournoy, lacked spark in practice recently, and the lethargy apparently carried over into their game-time appearance.

Despite her early exit, Tamoulianis put up 15 points but only three rebounds. LeSueur led Georgetown with 16 points on 8-for-14 shooting.

Nwagbo led the game with 19 points and 13 boards while freshman guard Jessica Richter contributed 13 points for the Orange off the bench.

“When a team beats you twice, you have lots of extra incentive to win. Georgetown is a good team with a lot of weapons,” Cieplicki said. “This time we established a better game in the paint. We just went at the basket all night.”

Syracuse will face a much more daunting opponent in the quarterfinals: third seed Connecticut (20-7, 13-3). The Huskies, who will play on a home court, did not look fazed while scouting their potential opponents from the stands during the contest. This year the Big East sports four strong, nationally-ranked contenders at the top but little competition from the rest of the conference.

Little of this matters now to Georgetown, relegated to the sidelines until next fall. The Hoyas finished the season on a three-game winning streak but could not cap it with postseason success.

Although the Hoyas will return to the court later this year, three players saw their final minutes in Georgetown uniform last night: Tamoulianis and guards Mary Lisicky and Sarah Jenkins.