George Washington University Athletics
Bozeman Era Begins at GW Saturday Against UMBC
11/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2008
UMBC Game Notes in PDF Format 
| | GW All-Access
WASHINGTON, DC - The Mike Bozeman era begins at George Washington Saturday afternoon as the first-year women's basketball head coach leads the Colonials into their season opener against Maryland-Baltimore County at Charles E. Smith Center.
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Saturday's season opener marks a new era in George Washington women's basketball as for the first time in nearly two decades a new head coach will appear on the Colonials' bench. First-year head coach Mike Bozeman takes over the reins of the program after three seasons as an assistant under Joe McKeown, who assumed head coaching duties at Northwestern this offseason after 19 years in Foggy Bottom.
Bozeman, who is the eighth head coach in the 34-year history of the GW program, helped GW to a 78-20 overall record, three NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of trips to the Sweet 16 in 2007 and 2008 during his three seasons as assistant coach.
Saturday marks Bozeman's first official game as head coach of the Colonials, but he is no stranger to handling the main duties for GW. Bozeman served as interim head coach three times during the 2006-07 season, including a 72-58 season-opening victory over UMBC at Smith Center on Nov. 10, 2006. He also led GW to an upset of #11/10 Georgia and a win over host San Diego State to claim the Surf `N Slam Classic in Dec. 2006.
GW lost three starters from last season - Kimberly Beck, Sarah-Jo Lawrence and Whitney Allen - to graduation, but return senior starters Jessica Adair and Antelia Parrish as well as six other letterwinners for the 2008-09 campaign. The Colonials also welcome seven newcomers - six freshmen and Wake Forest transfer Yolanda Lavender - to their lineup. Despite the roster and coaching staff makeovers, GW was still picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 this season, behind two-time defending conference tournament champion Xavier. The Colonials also are receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Top 25 polls.
GW owns the nation's 13th longest home court winning streak with 13 consecutive victories on the Smith Center hardwood entering Saturday's season opener. The Colonials, who had a 15-game home streak snapped by nationally ranked Rutgers last season, have won 28 of their last 29 games in Foggy Bottom, nearly 90 percent (128-of-143) of their home games over the past decade and 77.5 percent (337-98) in the facility's 33 seasons.
It marks the third consecutive season the Colonials and Retrievers have opened their seasons against each other, with GW winning both previous games to improve to 7-0 all-time against UMBC.
GW is 18-15 all-time in season openers, including an 11-2 mark in openers at Smith Center. The Colonials last lost a season opener prior to the 2005-06 season in a 65-52 loss to Virginia at Smith Center. GW is 17-1 all-time against America East schools, with its lone loss coming to Boston University in Dec. 1982.
In last year's season tip-off at RAC Arena in Baltimore, UMBC jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead, but GW closed the half on a 31-16 run to lead by nine at the break and never allowed the Retrievers closer than seven in the second half in a 79-59 victory. Antelia Parrish had 17 points and eight boards in her D-I debut and GW scored 32 points off 24 UMBC turnovers to offset Carlee Cassidy's game-high 24 points.
UMBC finished 9-21 overall and sixth in the America East Conference in 2007-08, a year after capturing its first league tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Retrievers, who were picked to finish a program-best fifth in the AEC this year, return seven players from last season's team, highlighted by preseason All-Conference selection Carlee Cassidy. Cassidy led UMBC and the league in scoring in 2007-08 at 17.0 ppg to become the first Retriever to earn first team All-Conference recognition. Lone senior Chantay Frazier and 2008 America East All-Rookie selection Meghan Colabella also return to the lineup. Head coach Phil Stern welcomes his largest incoming class with eight players - seven freshmen and JUCO transfer Tonishea Mack - to a roster with just three players of junior standing or better.
