George Washington University Athletics
Let the Madness Begin!
3/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 19, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, NC - The GW women's basketball team (22-8) will meet the Ole Miss Lady Rebels (19-10) for the first time when the two teams square off in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in Chapel Hill, NC on Sunday March 20. The Colonials are seeded ninth in the Tempe Regional, while the Lady Rebels earned the eighth seed.
Tip time for Sunday night's contest is set for 30 minutes after the conclusion of the #1 North Carolina/#16 Coppin State game which begins at 7:00 p.m. EST.
The Colonials are making their 12th appearance in the NCAA Championship and they are 12-11 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. GW has advanced to the second round of the championship in nine of their 11 previous trips. GW advanced to the Sweet 16 in 1995 and reached the Elite Eight in 1997, the best showing in school history.
Senior Anna Montañana was named a WBCA/Kodak Region I All-American earlier this week. She leads GW in scoring at 17.3 points per game and ranks second on the team with a 7.0 rebounds per game average. Montañana earned all-conference first-team accolades for the second straight season.
Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Kimberly Beck ranks second on the team with 41 three-pointers and led the league in assists per game average at 5.3. She is also averaging 8.0 points per outing. Senior Jessica Simmonds was selected to the Atlantic 10 Conference Second Team in 2004-05 and is the team's top rebounder at 7.1 boards per game. She has also registered five double-doubles on the season.
GW enters the contest having won nine of its last 10 games.
Mississippi is 19-10 overall and was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament by Georgia. Coach Carol Ross had guided the Lady Rebels to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in her two seasons behind the bench.
Sophomore Armintie Price has had a breakout year in her second year at Ole Miss. She was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year and led the SEC in steals and rebounds. She is also the Lady Rebels' leading scorer at 17.0 points per game. Amber Watts is averaging in double figures for Ole Miss at 11.8 points per game.
The Lady Rebels are averaging over 71 points per contest and had won two straight before losing to Georgia in the SEC Championship on March 4.
The winner of the GW/Ole Miss clash will meet either North Carolina or Coppin State on Tuesday, March 22.
The GW University will have a fan bus traveling from Washington, DC to Chapel Hill for the game. To reserve a seat on the bus, please call 202-994-7670 by 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. There will also be a pre-game reception for fans from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm at the Spice Street Restaurant located at 201 South Estes Street in Chapel Hill. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a buffet, and soft drinks will be provided.
Fans not in attendance can see the game live in the Washington, DC area on ESPN2. Dave Pasch and Debbie Antonelli will call the action and Sam Ryan will serve as the sideline reporter. Fans can also hear the game over the Internet on GW's student radio station (WRGW Radio) at www.gwradio.com.
