George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
La Salle
Parrish Lifts GW to Sixth Straight Win, 72-70 at La Salle
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Senior Antelia Parrish scored 18 of her career-high 25 points in the second half and Chelsea Conner's jumper rimmed out as time expired as George Washington escaped with a 72-70 victory at La Salle Saturday for its sixth consecutive victory.
GW (13-8, 5-1 A-10) trailed for much of the game until Parrish scored 11 points during a 17-8 run which gave the Colonials a 54-53 lead with 9:25 remaining. GW pushed the margin to six, 70-64, with 58 seconds left, but La Salle scored six unanswered points to tie the game 70-70 with 27 seconds to play.
Senior Yolanda Lavender, who finished with eight points and five assists off the bench, hit a pair of free throws with 25 seconds to go to put the Colonials ahead 72-70. The Explorers called timeout following an offensive rebound with 12.7 seconds left, but Margaret Elderton missed a three and GW took possession on a team rebound with 2.0 seconds. However, the Colonials turned the ball over on the inbounds and Conner freed herself for a 15-foot jumper from the wing with 1.7 seconds, but the shot rattled in-and-out at the buzzer.
Parrish shot 10-of-16 from the field, 3-of-6 from three-point range, and finished just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. Senior Jessica Adair and freshman Tiana Myers each chipped in 10 points.
Elderton led La Salle (10-12, 1-6 A-10) with 21 points, followed by 15 from Morgan Robertson and 12 from Jamie Walsh.
GW trailed by as many as nine in the first half, but managed to trim its deficit to five, 36-31, at the break. Margaret Elderton knocked down three 3-pointers, including triples on consecutive possessions to twice spot the hosts a nine-point edge, and scored 13 first-half points as the Explorers led at the half.
Erica Rivera converted a three-point play on a baseline inbounds situation and Antelia Parrish hit from deep with six seconds left in the half to pull the Colonials within five at the intermission.
GW shot 15-for-28 (53.6 percent) in the second half and finished at 44.1 percent from the field for the game. It marked the Colonials' first victory of the season after trailing at the half.
The Colonials will look to avenge their lone league loss when they host Richmond at Charles E. Smith Center Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
