1996-97 Women's Basketball (2019) - Hall of Fame - George Washington University Athletics

1996-97 Women's Basketball

Induction:
2019

Led by the most successful senior class (Tajama Abraham, Lisa Cermignano and Colleen McCrea) the program has seen, the 1996-97 women's basketball team advanced to the Elite Eight for the only time in program history. After a perfect 16-0 A-10 regular season, GW earned the #5 seed in the East Region and took down #12 seed Northwestern (61-46) and #4 seed Tulane (81-67) at the Smith Center before advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. The Colonials knocked off the #1 seed (No. 4 nationally), North Carolina (55-46) for the highest-ranked win in program history before bowing out to #6 seed Notre Dame. GW finished 28-6 with a 4-4 record against nationally ranked foes behind A-10 Coach of the Year Joe McKeown and Abraham (19.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg), the A-10 Player of the Year. Abraham also was tabbed the only WBCA/Kodak First Team All-American in program history. Noelia Gomez (17.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) was the A-10 Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-League selection. Cermignano and McCrea were third team selections. GW finished 10th in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, the highest final ranking in program history.