George Washington University Athletics
GW Women's Hoops Hosts Rhode Island on Saturday
1/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2014
WHO: GW Women's Basketball (14-7, 5-3 A-10)
WHAT: Game #22, A-10 Game #9 vs. Rhode Island Rams (6-15, 1-7 A-10)
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center (4,338), 600 22nd Street NW
Directions to Smith Center | Parking Options | Public Transportation
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
HOW: Buy Tickets
VIDEO: Free on RaiseHigh Live or A-10 Mobile App
STATS:
AUDIO: WRGW Sports
TWITTER: @GW_WBB | @GWGeorge | #RaiseHigh
NOTES: GW Notes
PROMOTION: Girls and Women in Sports Day | FREE Postgame Youth Clinic
WASHINGTON - The George Washington women's basketball team hosts Atlantic 10 rival Rhode Island on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off at the Charles E. Smith Center.
Following the game, GW will host a free youth clinic as part of Girls and Women in Sports Day. A number of Colonials' women's teams - including women's basketball, lacrosse, women's rowing, women's soccer, softball and volleyball - will run the clinic, which is open to both girls and boys.
GW (14-7, 5-3 A-10) is coming off an 89-76 win at Massachusetts on Wednesday afternoon. Sophomore Jonquel Jones posted a double-double with 20 points and a career-high 17 rebounds - her sixth double-double and fourth 20-point effort in 10 games this season. Junior Chakecia Miller (14 points) and graduate student Danni Jackson (11) also reached double figures and added six assists apiece.
The victory over UMass was the Colonials' 14th of the season, matching their win total from 2012-13. GW's 14-7 record is its best through 21 games since going 17-4 in 2007-08 en route to the NCAA Sweet 16, and the Colonials are off to their best start to A-10 play (5-3) since going 6-2 in 2008-09.
After topping 80 points on Wednesday for the eighth time this season, GW boasts the A-10's third-leading offense, averaging 76.9 points per game behind six players who are averaging 7.5 points per game or better, including four in double figures. Graduate student Megan Nipe leads the way with 15.3 points per contest, ranking ninth in the Atlantic 10.
The Colonials also rank third in the A-10 in rebounding with 44.0 boards per game and are averaging a league-high 47.9 rebounds per contest against conference opponents following a 60-rebound performance at UMass. Jones has averaged a double-double of 13.9 points and 10.7 rebounds in her 10 games as a Colonial. She leads the league in rebounding in conference contests (10.7 rpg) and is the only player averaging double-figure boards against league foes.
GW has dominated the all-time series against Rhode Island with 37 wins in 43 meetings since 1984, including three in a row. Jackson has averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 assists per game in three career contests against the Rams.
Last season, GW defeated URI, 57-43, at the Smith Center. Miller finished just shy of a triple-double with nine points, eight rebounds and 10 steals, while Tayra Melendez led the Rams with 17 points and seven rebounds. The Colonials held URI to just 28.3 percent shooting in the game.
Rhode Island (6-15, 1-7 A-10) has lost four in a row and seven of its last eight contests following a 64-51 loss at Fordham on Wednesday. Freshman Kallie Banker led the Rams with 16 points off the bench. URI has lost 43 consecutive road games, the second-longest streak in the country.
Melendez paces Rhode Island with 12.7 points per game this season, the only Ram averaging in double figures. She ranks second in the A-10 in blocks (1.5 bpg) and 10th in three-point percentage (.368). Kerry Wallack is URI's top rebounder with 7.9 boards per game - ranking seventh in the A-10 - to go with 9.9 points per contest. The Rams rank last in the A-10 in offense, averaging 54.0 points per game, but allow just 58.3 points per contest, ranking second in the league in defense.
GW next hits the road for back-to-back games next week, visiting Atlantic 10 rivals Duquesne and Fordham on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. The Dukes (15-6, 7-1 A-10) currently reside atop the A-10 standings, while the Rams (17-4, 6-2 A-10) are in third place.
