George Washington University Athletics
A Foggy Bottom Thanksgiving
11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Eric Detweiler, GW Athletics Communications
Kendall Bresee is expecting a dozen or so family members in the crowd at Charles E. Smith Center on Thursday afternoon when George Washington women's basketball opens the Paradise Jam against Vanderbilt.
Bresee wishes her grandmother could be there, but the sophomore guard appreciates why she volunteered to stay behind in Frederick, Md.
"Bless her heart," Bresee said. "She'll be at home cooking Thanksgiving dinner, so it's ready for the rest of us when we get there."
The Paradise Jam's move from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Foggy Bottom has ensured a more traditional Thanksgiving experience than usual for Bresee and her GW teammates.
The Colonials have spent the past three Thanksgivings on the road. This senior class has celebrated the holiday in Florida, Texas and the Bahamas.
This time, GW will play a home game and then be free to spend the rest of the night with family before reconvening Friday ahead of a matchup with Wisconsin.
"It's something that I've missed dearly," said Kelli Prange, a senior who will head home to Damascus, Md., after Thursday's game. "It's not anything huge. My mom just cooks a ton of food, and I love Thanksgiving food."
Many families had made arrangements to follow GW to the island of St. Thomas. Those plans changed in September after Hurricanes Irma and Maria swept through the region and forced the tournament to relocate.
GW head coach Jennifer Rizzotti recognized the rare opportunity. Hosting meant bringing three power conference foes to Smith Center and giving her players a holiday at home, while also raising money for hurricane relief.
GW will still get the on-court challenges and bonding time Rizzotti wanted when she scheduled the trip last fall, but the Colonials also get to enjoy the comforts of home. The team is set to celebrate Thanksgiving together on Wednesday night with dinner in a restaurant.
"That's the special thing about it," said Rizzotti, who plans to make time Thursday night for pizza with her husband and two sons around preparations for Wisconsin. "The kids will get to be with us and be with each other but also share this experience with their own families."
Mei-Lyn Bautista said she was looking forward to the Caribbean trip but quickly changed her attitude.
Originally, she'd have spent Thanksgiving night with her mother, father and brother in the Virgin Islands.
Now, the traveling party from New York includes her grandmother and a handful of other relatives. They're all stationed in a hotel across the street from her dorm room.
"There's nothing better than playing at home," Bautista said. "I know I love playing here with our fans, and it's even better to have our families here, too, for Thanksgiving. ... I think it's more than just us playing right now. We're excited for the whole moment."
Bresee got her first taste of Thanksgiving on the road last season when GW played in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. She said it was difficult missing out on the feast with family that had been her tradition.
Bresee is grateful for the chance to play in front of most of those relatives and later pile a plate with her grandmother's mashed potatoes and mac and cheese.
"It's a little bit bittersweet," Bresee said. "Being in the Virgin Islands would have been pretty awesome, but you can't go wrong with Thanksgiving at home."
