George Washington University Athletics
Women's Basketball Defeats Santa Clara, 83-77, In Overtime
12/20/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON, DC (Dec. 20) -- George Washington senior All-American guard Elisa Aguilar led all scorers with 26 points as the Colonials claimed an 83-77 overtime victory over Santa Clara tonight in Smith Center. The loss was the first of the season for Santa Clara, who falls to 9-1 on the year. GW improves to 7-2 on the season with their fifth consecutive win.
After the teams were tied 27-27 at intermission, GW opened the second half with an 18-6 run to claim a 45-33 lead on an Aguilar three-pointer with 15:23 remaining in the game. Santa Clara counted with a 20-5 run of their own, and claimed a 53-50 lead on a three-pointer from Becki Ashbaugh with 8:17 left in the game.
GW led by as many as four points in the late stages of the second half, and staked a 69-65 lead on a pair of free throws by Alexander with 1:13 remaining. Jennifer Glysson drew the Broncos to within two with a layup with 1:00 left. After a GW turnover and a missed Santa Clara jumper, Glysson grabbed the rebound and was fouled by GW's Marlo Egleston with 16 seconds remaining. After a pair of GW timeouts, Glysson sank two free throws to deadlock the score at 69-69.
GW had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but Alexander lost the handle on the ball as she drove the middle of the lane with three seconds left.
The Colonials wasted no time in overtime and grabbed a quick lead on another Aguilar three-pointer 12 seconds into the extra period. Julie Butler trimmed the GW lead to 72-71 with 3:54 remaining on a jumper, but Petra Dubovcova pushed the GW lead back to three points with a pair of free throws with 3:30 remaining. Stephanie Rogers' jumper for Santa Clara with 2:43 remaining cut the GW lead to 74-73.
Alexander pushed the GW lead to 76-73 on yet another driving layup with 1:35 left to play. Santa Clara was unable to answer on the other end as Glysson turned the ball over.. Egleston sank two free throws for GW as the Colonials pushed the lead to 78-73 with 59 seconds left. Aguilar fouled the Bronco's Katie Pursley on the next possession, and Pursley's perfect pair from the line cut the GW lead to 78-75 with 49 seconds left.
Cathy Joens hit perhaps the most important shot in overtime for GW on the next series. With the shot clock winding down, Aguilar found Dubovcova with an entry pass in the paint. Dubovcova spun to shoot but the ball was knocked out of her hands. Joens grabbed the loose ball and shot in one motion, draining a nine-foot jumper as the shot clock expired, to give GW an 80-75 lead with 15 seconds remaining.
GW held off Santa Clara in the final seconds with two free throws by Aguilar and one from Egleston.
It was a hard-fought game, said GW Head Coach Joe McKeown. This was really just a survival game, a hard-nosed game. I thought both teams really showed great intensity. We just made a few plays in overtime to win. When you can grab a lead early in overtime it's a big advantage.
Aguilar led all scorers with 26 points, including four three-pointers. Junior guard Alexander scored 16 points off the bench, and junior forward Dubovcova tallied15 points for GW.
Tammy Annas led Santa Clara with 17 points and eight rebounds. Ashbaugh scored 14 points on the strength of 4-8 shooting from behind the arc. Glysson recorded a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Annie Garrison scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
The Broncos outrebunded GW 48-37. GW's pressure defense forced Santa Clara into committing 28 turnovers while GW swiped 15 steals.
GW takes a week off for the Christmas holiday, and will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 28, with a 7:00 pm contest at home against Maryland-Eastern Shore.
