Women's Hoops Falls at Dayton, 66-55

Sunday, January 21

Dayton, OH

12:00 PM

George Washington University

8-10 (3-3 A-10)

Dayton

14-4 (7-0 A-10)

George Washington

Dayton

1/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jan. 21, 2018

Box Score | Photo Gallery

DAYTON, Ohio - In the first of two nationally-televised games between George Washington and Dayton this season, the first bout lived up to the billing of what has become a heated rivalry over the past few years in the Atlantic 10. On Sunday afternoon, it was the home team holding serve once again in the series as the Flyers used a big second-half run to hand the Colonials a 66-55 loss at UD Arena.

Senior Brianna Cummings turned in another double-digit scoring effort to lead the Colonials, her team-leading 14th of the season, by finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior Kelli Prange finished just shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, while junior Kelsi Mahoney hit a quartet of three-pointers for 12 points, along with five rebounds.

Dayton (14-4, 7-0 A-10) started the game as hot as can be by connecting on six three pointers in the first quarter, including a trio in the opening two minutes of the game, to lead by as many as 11 points before holding a nine-point lead (23-14) after one.

The Colonials responded by starting the second quarter on a 10-0 run thanks to consecutive jumpers by Prange and Cummings and back-to-back three pointers from junior Mei-Lyn Bautista and Mahoney, the latter of which gave GW a one-point lead 24-23 with 7:36 to play in the first half. The Flyers answered with a run of their own to pull ahead by eight points, 32-24, but GW closed the first half on a 10-4 run to trail by just two points at halftime, 36-34.

A slicing layup late in the shot clock by Cummings tied the score early in the third quarter and a three-pointer by Mahoney moments later gave GW its biggest lead of the game at 39-36 with 8:03 to play in the third quarter. The teams traded baskets until a pair of free throws by Cummings knotted the score at 41-41 midway through the third, but Dayton used an 11-3 run over the final five minutes of the third quarter to take a 52-45 lead into the fourth.

The Flyers kept up the pressure in the closing quarter, and the Colonials were unable to string together enough stops before the final score was solidified, 66-55, in favor of the home team.

Bautista turned in another exemplary performance as the point guard, finishing with eight points and seven assists against just two turnovers.

GW's defense forced 15 turnovers in the game and was able to turn it into 15 points at the other end, but Dayton held commanding leads in both points in the paint (32-24) and fast-break points (23-7).

Lauren Cannatelli connected on four three-pointers on the way to a game-high tying 17 points to lead the Flyers. Jayla Scaife (8-of-13 FG, 17 points) and Jenna Burdette (16 points) also contributed to the three-pronged attack for Dayton.

The Colonials will return home to open a three-game homestand on Wednesday when they host Rhode Island at the Charles E. Smith Center for the annual Field Trip Day. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.