George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
<b>AUBURN</b>
GW Drops First at Home, 52-45 Against Auburn
12/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington women's basketball team used a 10-1 run late in the second half to get within 46-39 with less than two minutes to play, but Auburn held on for a 52-45 victory Wednesday that dealt the Colonials their first loss at Charles E. Smith Center this season.
It was GW's (5-5) first loss in six home games this season and third straight loss to Auburn (4-5), which evened the six-game all-time series that began in 2006 at 3-3.
GW limited Auburn to just 29.7 percent shooting from the field, but was overwhelmed 49-36 on rebounds. The Tigers grabbed a season-high 27 offensive rebounds, which led to a 17-7 advantage in second-chance points, and also turned the Colonials' 15 turnovers into 15 points.
Junior Tiana Myers scored all of her team-high 12 points in the second half, including six points in the final 2:38. Junior Tara Booker added eight points and team-high eight rebounds for GW.
Blanche Alverson (16 points) and Alli Smalley (14) combined for 11-of-30 shooting and 30 of Auburn's 52 points. No other Tiger player scored more than five points. Jordan Greenleaf finished with a game-high 11 rebounds and four blocks.
For the second straight meeting, GW found itself in too deep of a hole after an abysmal first-half shooting effort. A season ago, the Colonials shot just 16.7 percent en route to a 14-point opening half and a 62-43 loss in Auburn, AL. On Wednesday, GW managed just 15 points on 17.9 percent shooting and trailed 25-15 at halftime.
The margin hovered around 10 points through the opening 10 minutes of the second half before Auburn scored on three consecutive possessions for its largest lead, 45-29, with 6:59 left.
The Colonials responded with field goals on five of their next six trips to spark a 10-1 run that closed the gap to seven, 46-39, with 1:59 remaining.
That's as close as it would get though as Auburn matched GW's final three baskets for the 52-45 final.
The Colonials improved to 33.3 percent from the floor overall after a 13-for-26 effort in the second half, but dropped to 1-3 this season when shooting below 35 percent.
GW plays its final four non-conference games away from home beginning with a visit to District-rival American Saturday at 2:00 pm.
