George Washington University Athletics
Women's Hoops Wraps Non-Conference Play at Villanova
1/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2010
GW at Villanova Notes 
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VILLANOVA, PA - The George Washington women's basketball team concludes its non-conference slate Thursday night with a visit to Villanova. It marks the sixth straight season and ninth time in the past 11 seasons the Colonials and Wildcats will meet.
With only seven players available due to injuries, GW (3-13, 0-4 A-10) surrendered 24 fast-break points and 23 points off turnovers to a much deeper and quicker Richmond squad in a 76-47 road loss Tuesday night. Megan Nipe led GW and matched a career-high with 13 points and Tiana Myers added 12 on a combined 11-of-32 shooting, but the rest of the Colonials managed just 22 points on 8-of-26 shooting. Over the last three games, GW's double-digit scorers have combined for 90 points on 35-of-91 shooting, while all other scorers have combined for 50 points on 19-of-80 shooting.
GW has won five straight games to take a 6-2 edge in the all-time series with Villanova. The Wildcats last victory over the Colonials was a 70-57 triumph in the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament in Norman, OK. Half of the eight meetings have been decided by 10 points or less, including GW's 67-60 victory in Washington last January.
The Colonials are likely down to seven players for Thursday's contest as freshman Shi-Heria Shipp remains doubtful after suffering a left ankle injury in the first half of Saturday's loss to Charlotte. Shipp did not dress in Tuesday's loss at Richmond.
Villanova (10-6, 0-4 BE) takes a break from Big East play for its nonconference finale against GW Thursday. The Wildcats have won 10-of-12 out-of-conference contests, including victories over Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple and La Salle to capture their 11th Big Five title and first since 2003-04.
However, the Wildcats have lost four straight to begin Big East play, most recently a 71-54 loss to Marquette in their league opener at the Pavilion Saturday. VU converted a season-high 13 three pointers on 31 attempts, including 7-of-12 in the second half, but were just 6-of-16 inside the arc and were outrebounded 39-17. Emily Suhey and Jesse Carey led the Wildcats with 15 and nine points, respectively. VU's starting five totaled 23 points on 8-of-24 shooting, 4-of-15 from deep.
As has been the case in recent seasons, Villanova relies heavily on the three-point shot. More than half of VU's field goal attempts this season have come from beyond the arc (427-of-808, 52.8 percent), converting 121-of-427 attempts.
Laura Sweeney, who has started just two of 16 games, leads the Wildcats in scoring at 11.6 points in just 21.3 minutes per game. She also paces the team in rebounding (5.9 rpg), field goal percentage (.579) and steals (1.3 spg).
