George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
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Princeton
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Women's Basketball Tops Tigers in Home Opener
11/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON - In a match-up of 2016 NCAA Tournament teams, the George Washington women's basketball team topped Princeton, 56-45, in the Colonials' home opener and home debut for head coach Jennifer Rizzotti on Sunday at the Charles E. Smith Center. With the win GW evened its record to 1-1 on the young campaign.
"We are obviously happy to get our first win of the season," said Rizzotti. "It wasn't super pretty but we did a nice job of adjusting to the style of the game. We anticipated they would play a lot of zone, but it is always different when you see it for the first time and I thought our team adjusted, made some great passes and got some really good looks at the basket so it was nice to see those shots go down later in the game."
Following a first quarter that saw Princeton, who secured an at-large bid to the Big Dance last season, double-up GW on the scoreboard, 12-6, it was GW who roared back against the Tigers as the home team surged to a 20-9 second quarter edge and never looked back. The Colonials' lead grew to 17 at its largest, before settling in on the final 11-point margin. GW had matching 7-of-13 efforts from the floor in the second and third quarters as part of their surge.
"We settled into our cuts and movements and got easier shots after the first quarter," said Rizzotti. "Our team is so coachable and so receptive to what we see, it is nice that I was able to gather them up in the middle of the first and second quarters and talk about what I want and they are able to go out and do it."
Hannah Schaible and Kelli Prange both accounted for 11 on the scoreboard, while Schaible also pulled down a game-high nine boards and dished a game-high five assists. Only Princeton's Jordan Muhammad's career-best scoring output of 12 prevented Schaible, a preseason All-Conference selection, from pacing both teams in points, rebounds, assists and steals, as the senior also pilfered a career-high five balls from the Tigers in a stat-stuffing 4x5 effort.
Led by Schaible, GW assisted on 15-of-19 made field goals and forced 21 Princeton turnovers, while harassing the Tigers into .304 shooting from the field. Though she missed six freebies, Schaible almost equaled Princeton's entire team in made free throws, as her five makes at the line were part of GW's 12-of-21 afternoon at the stripe, while limiting the Tigers' free chances to 10 (6-of-10).
Freshman Kendall Bresee provided a spark off the bench for the Colonials - and a breather for Schaible's team-high 33 minutes - with five points, including her first career three pointer, and four boards in nine minutes.
In her debut at the Charles E. Smith Center, grad transfer Lexi Martins racked up eight points, eight boards and three blocks in 26 minutes in a reserve role. As a team, GW swatted eight Princeton shots, with Caira Washington and Brianna Cummings each sending away a pair.
Up next for GW is another home date on Wednesday night, this time vs. Coppin State at 7pm.
