George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
UMBC
Women's Basketball Muzzles Retrievers in Season Opener
11/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington senior Kenan Cole led a balanced scoring attack in which five players reached double digits as the Colonials' women's basketball team out-muscled Maryland-Baltimore County, 72-58, in both teams' season opener at Charles E. Smith Athletic Center on Friday afternoon.
Cole led all players with 14 points, including 10 in the first half, followed by 12 from juniors Kimberly Beck and Sarah-Jo Lawrence. Sophomores Chantelle John and Lisa Steele both contributed a career-high 11 points to help GW improve to 6-0 all-time against UMBC.
Assistant coach Mike Bozeman filled in for head coach Joe McKeown, who missed Friday's game due to illness, and led the Colonials to their first season-opening home victory since the 2002-03 season.
GW's 2006 NCAA Tournament banner made its first appearance in the Smith Center rafters on Friday, but the unveiling didn't seem to phase the Retrievers initially. Brittnie Hughes hit an open three-pointer, a recurring theme in the season opener, to spot UMBC an early 3-0 lead. However, the Colonials' defensive pressure set the tone from that point as two quick steals led to a pair of easy baskets as GW quickly regained the lead.
GW led by as many as six points until a quick 7-0 run put UMBC on top, 17-16, with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half. The Colonials responded with a 21-5 half-ending run sparked by eight points from John to enter the intermission with a 15-point, 37-22, advantage.
The lead never dipped below double-digits the rest of the way and peaked at 18 points three separate times, the last at 61-43 with 6:04 left, as GW was able to fend off a hot-shooting Retrievers squad.
UMBC hit 10-of-17 three-point attempts (58.8 percent), the most allowed by GW since Duquesne connected on 13 triples on Feb. 22, 2004, but converted just 11 of its 31 shots (35.5 percent) inside the arc.
GW was just as hot from all parts of the floor, shooting 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field, 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from three-point range, and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the foul line.
The deciding factor was GW's domination of the boards, as the Colonials out-rebounded the Retrievers, 39-24, which led to a 17-9 edge in second-chance points and 26-16 edge in points in the paint.
Three UMBC players reached double figures, led by Hughes' 13 points, six assists and five steals. Sharri Rohde and Kristin Drabyn added 12 points apiece, with Rohde collecting a game-high nine rebounds.
Opening weekend continues on Sunday at Smith Center, as GW hosts two-time defending MEAC champion Coppin State at 2:00 pm.
Notes: Lawrence added a career-high five steals ... Cole matched a career-high with eight rebounds ... Junior Whitney Allen had a career-high six assists ... Beck hit four three-pointers to tie a career-high ... Beck moved into third place on GW's career assists list with 347 helpers ... Sophomore Jamila Bates grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in 19 minutes of action ... Steele converted a rare four-point play with 1:39 remaining ... GW's three freshman all saw action, with Ivy Abiona posting a block and Robin Murphy securing a rebound.
