George Washington University Athletics
Go West Colonials!
12/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2004
PORTLAND, OR - Fresh of its 62-52 triumph over No. 24 Villanova, the GW women's basketball team (3-1) heads west for a pair of games against non-conference foes. The Colonials will meet undefeated Oregon (4-0) on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 4:30 (EST) and clash with BYU (3-1) on Monday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 (EST).
GW got 19 points and 13 rebounds from senior Jessica Simmonds to lead it past the Wildcats on Dec. 1 at the Smith Center. Senior All-America candidate Anna Montañana also contributed 19 markers in the contest. Freshman Kimberly Beck played all 40 minutes versus the Wildcats and has started all four games for GW at the point. She currently ranks second in the Atlantic 10 in assists, averaging 4.75 helpers per game.
The Colonials are second in the conference in field goal percentage defense on the young season (.337) and they will need to be solid in that area again in these two games. Oregon enters its pairing with the Colonials scoring 68.8 points per outing and BYU is averaging 75.0 points per game.
GW's matchup with the Ducks is part of Oregon's Pape Jam, a basketball double-header at the Rose Garden in Portland, OR. Following the women's contest the Oregon men's basketball squad will take on Vanderbilt.
Oregon is coming off a 68-50 triumph against Long Island on Nov. 27 at the LIU Turkey Classic. The Ducks are coached by women's basketball Hall of Famer Bev Smith. Smith, in her fourth season, owns a 52-44 overall mark at the helm of the Oregon program. Senior Cathrine Kraayeveld leads the club in scoring (15.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg).
BYU's only loss of the season came against Arizona on Nov. 27 by the score of 76-73. The Cougars responded with a 70-35 thumping of Portland in its most recent outing on Nov. 30. BYU has four players averaging in double figures so far this season. Starters Ambrosia Anderson (12.8 ppg), Kristen Kozlowski (11.5 ppg) and Julie Sullivan (10.0 ppg), along with reserve freshman Mallary Gillespie (11.5) are averaging double-digit points.
The BYU contest is a homecoming of sorts for GW freshman Lora Mitchell, a native of Orem, UT which is approximately four miles north of Provo, which is where BYU is located. Mitchell attended Mountain View High School and was a teammate of Gillespie's. Together the pair helped lead the school to three state championships.
The Colonials are 1-0 all-time against both opponents. GW posted a 72-52 triumph over the Ducks at the Smith Center last season and knocked off BYU, 82-58, in 2002-03.
The GW/Oregon contest will be televised on the Oregon Sports Network (ESPN Regional) in the Portland and Eugene areas. Fans can also listen to both contests live over the Internet on GW's student radio station (WRGW Radio) at www.gwradio.com.
