WBB Preseason Primer: Surging Into Year Two

10/18/2018 2:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball, My GW: Celebrating our Stories

Trio of Colonial sophomores ready to take the next step after strong first year

By: Kevin Burke

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of features previewing the 2018-19 GW Women's Basketball program. Leading up to the season opener on Nov. 8 at James Madison, GWsports.com will highlight four distinct groups in weekly articles. Stay tuned each week for more preseason primer content on the defending Atlantic 10 champions.

Part I: A Bond Born Through Adversity (Seniors Mei-Lyn Bautista and Kelsi Mahoney)

Having a successful first season ending in an NCAA Tournament could provide a false sense of security for those who are unaware of the journey, still blissfully riding the high of a spirited finish. Fortunately, that is far from the case for GW women's basketball's trio of sophomores – Chyna Latimer, Lexus Levy and Neila Luma.

All three were integral cogs in the Colonials' run to the A-10 Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. And yet all three realize, that while the NCAA Tournament is the expectation, it is far from a given.

"Winning the A-10 Championship last year and getting a chance to go to the tournament really is a big motivator for us this year," Luma said. "We want to get back there, and we want to do even more this year."

"The experience was awesome," Levy added. "I think we're hungry this year again because of Mei and Kelsi. They did it for last year's seniors, so they're expecting us to do it for them this year."

"And we want to do it for them, just as a group," Latimer noted. "They're a big part of our success, and they deserve it."

So too is this group that accounts for three of the five players that return with game action from last year's squad. Seven newcomers, including a pair of redshirt-sophomore transfers, join the fray.

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Each will be counted upon to take a big step in year two. Luma had the biggest impact in her first year, starting 31 games and averaging 7.1 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game, a mark that is second amongst returners in the A-10. Despite the success, there was a learning curve for the Macungie, Pa., native.

"The biggest lesson I learned was to work hard every day," Luma said. "I know that not every day is going to be easy, but the main thing is to work hard and push through it.

"For me and all of us, we have a better understanding of the game being under Coach Rizzotti. Now, we understand more of what she expects of us. Last year, we kind of knew coming in, but now it's on us to lead the team this year."

Levy and Latimer fit comfortably in their roles off the bench, averaging 16.5 and 13.4 minutes, respectively. With the departure of Camila Tapias and Brianna Cummings, they will be needed to step up and fill those spots in the rotation. Defense, in particular, has been a spot mentioned by the duo for improvement.

"For me, I know that coach has a specific style of play," Latimer said. "It's all about defense. You want to get out there, and she wants to see you play defense and rebound for multiple possessions. It's not just offense and scoring, it's everything."

"Last year was hard, and this year is still hard," Levy said. "But it's a little easier to understand coming in as second-years knowing what we have to get done. Coming back the second year, you really try to work harder to be out there."

The standard growing pains for Coach Rizzotti's first true recruiting class at GW led to bigger roles as the season moved along. The feeling-out process dissipated, and the confidence in one another began to grow.

"One big thing I learned is that coach is always going to have your back," Levy said. "On the court, I learned that if you go hard it's going to be easier in the games."

"Coach used to tell us three that we're not going to win without us," Latimer said. "She tells me to just go out there and not be afraid to mess up and have confidence. She's going to give us a second chance, but it's on us to actually take that opportunity to prove to her why she gave us that second chance and why we should be out there."

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Despite coming in the same recruiting class, the three did not actually know each other until summer 2017 when Levy initiated a group chat that also including Olivia Gumbs and Sarah Overcash, who transferred in to the program and would have to sit out the 2017-18 season.

Latimer and Luma recalled finding out that they actually played against one another at an AAU tournament, although neither could remember who won or who guarded who. All that mattered was that they were on the same team moving forward for the next four years.

"I mean we're definitely all close off the court," Latimer said. "You can see it in practice, but we always have a connection. I know that they're automatically on the same team. We flow well together. We definitely have a strong connection off the court, which helps us on the court as well. And we're always laughing."

"Always. Laughing," Luma said, with a laugh.

Off the floor, Luma and Latimer enjoy shopping at Tysons or Georgetown, while Levy would prefer to find a basketball game to watch. You could also catch the three zipping around D.C. on bikes or joining in on the new rental scooter fad.

One thing they all agree on – movie night with dinner in somebody's room. The three live separately, but are just a floor away from one another.

"We always communicate, like 'let's go watch a movie or get dinner together'," Latimer said.

"We cook – they love my shrimp scampi," Levy said. Both Luma and Latimer agreed.

The camaraderie has been there since they first set foot on campus, and now in year two, the proverbial next step will be taken together as key members of a team aiming to make its second NCAA Tournament appearance in as many years.