George Washington University
0-1
Florida Gulf Coast
1-0
GW Women's Hoops Drops Opener at FGCU, 88-75
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Nov. 14, 2014
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Freshman Kelli Prange posted a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds in her collegiate debut, but the George Washington women's basketball team dropped its season opener to Florida Gulf Coast, 88-75, on Friday evening at Alico Arena.
Prange made nine of her 14 field goal attempts, including 2-for-5 from the three-point line, and seven of her 12 rebounds came on the offensive glass.
GW (0-1) jumped out to a 16-6 lead over the first four and a half minutes behind a pair of three-pointers by sophomore Shannon Cranshaw. The Colonials maintained their lead for much of the first half, but FGCU (1-0) scored 10 straight points over a 90-second span to take a 34-29 lead at the 6:20 mark. The Eagles extended their lead to 11 with 57 seconds left with another nine-in-a-row before a layup by Prange and a three-pointer by sophomore Shannon Cranshaw at the buzzer pulled GW within six, 44-38, at the break.
FGCU opened the second half with six straight points before Prange drained a three to curb the run. She scored the Colonials' first eight points of the period and had 16 in the half.
Trailing by 11, GW went on an 11-4 run, sparked by nine points from freshman Brianna Cummings, to cut its deficit to four, 61-57, at the 12:30 mark, and four straight free throws by seniors Lauren Chase and Chakecia Miller made it a one-point game, 64-63, with nine minutes to go.
The Eagles regained a five-point lead, but Prange responded with the Colonials' next six points, and her three-pointer at the 6:05 mark again made it a one-point contest, 70-69, but that was as close as GW would get, as FGCU went on to score 14 of the game's next 16 points to take a game-high 13-point lead, 84-71, with 1:35 left.
Sophomore Hannah Schaible and Chase each scored 11 points and Cummings added 10 to give the Colonials' four players in double figures.
GW held a commanding 50-30 rebounding advantage, including 22-2 on the offensive glass.
Kaneisha Atwater and Anthi Chatzigiakoumi led five Eagles in double figures with 17 points apiece, while Whitney Knight posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Colonials return to action on Monday when they visit district rival American for a 5 p.m. tip.
