George Washington University Athletics
WBB Preseason Primer: A Long Time Coming
10/24/2018 3:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball, My GW: Celebrating our Stories
Redshirt-sophomore transfers eagerly awaiting the opportunity to contribute on the court
Editor's Note: This is the third 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)
Part II: Surging Into Year Two (Sophomores Chyna Latimer, Lexus Levy and Neila Luma)
Life has a funny way of putting you in places you're supposed to be, even in a roundabout way. Redshirt-sophomores Olivia Gumbs and Sarah Overcash took the scenic route to GW, but as they enter their first year of competition with the Buff & Blue, both realize this is where they're supposed to be.
Gumbs and Overcash knew of GW when they were playing high school, as both were recruited by the former coaching staff before deciding to head to different locales. For Gumbs, the choice was Lafayette, where she starred as a unanimous All-Rookie performer in the Patriot League in 2016-17.
"I'm not from the area originally, but I'm happy to find my way back," Gumbs said.
Head coach Jennifer Rizzotti and the Colonials were happy to bring in the Newark, Del., native after she led the Leopards in points (10.5) and rebounds (7.2) in her first collegiate season. The former top-100 national recruit found an instant bond with Rizzotti.
"I was looking for a program that really had a consistent culture and values that really hone in to what I'm about," Gumbs said. "Having a coach who preaches it, and a team that really believes, is something that was really important."
Overcash, originally from nearby Chevy Chase, Md., was very familiar with the area after staring for four years at St. John's College High School in the District. She decided to head to Illinois for her first year, but home was calling after appearing in 26 games for the Fighting Illini.
"I wanted to come back home," Overcash said. "As soon as I started looking at the process, I didn't want to drop down academically so GW is where I wanted to come. When I met with the coaching staff, I realized it could not be a more perfect fit. I knew this is where I needed to be to get the most out of the year off."
Neither wanted to sacrifice their high academic standards, which made GW a good fit academically. It also meant having to sit out a year per NCAA transfer requirements. Gumbs, an international affairs major, and Overcash, a psychology major, knew that going into a year with no games to play would be difficult.
"I had a lot of people tell me that a sit-out year is going to be really tough," Overcash said. "But with the group of people we had last year and the coaching staff, I feel like I got so much out of it, and I wouldn't trade that year for anything. It made me that much readier and more driven for this year."
"It was definitely tough," Gumbs added. "We came in with a mindset of learning from everything we saw. Because when you're not playing, you have the ability to really absorb everything and understand what coach is asking of you."
Gumbs and Overcash participated in practice and took part in team activities, but the pair was not permitted to travel on the road per NCAA rules and had to make up for not playing in games by taking part in morning conditioning.
"Of course, you want to be out there with your team," Gumbs said. "They'd be getting ready to go to the game, and we'd be getting ready to stay here. It was hard because we loved our team and wanted to be with them, but we couldn't. We had to sit here and do everything we could to be ready for when they got back."
When the team hit the road, Gumbs and Overcash would meet up to keep track of the squad by any means necessary. The pair would typically meet for dinner and then watch the game on a tablet or laptop, eagerly awaiting their chance to play.
Nonetheless, it was a year of personal growth for the two newcomers, who used the year to their advantage by getting acclimated to the program.
"I've learned this before, but it was really prevalent here how important the little things are and how much they add up," Gumbs said. "Every coach preaches hustle and heart and competition, but it's really big here. You have to do it or you won't be successful."
"For me, it was learning how to do more of those little things like setting the right screen and reading the offense, Overcash said. "But also, it was about finding my voice as a leader of this team since it's a young team."
The opportunity to step in finally arose with the team's trip to Spain this summer as both were eligible to compete in the foreign tour. After a slow start, both broke out in the second game of the trip against the Valencia All-Stars – Gumbs posting a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds and Overcash adding 10 points and nine boards. The success brought about a sense of relief.
"Spain helped a lot with getting the nerves out," Overcash said. "Those jitters of not playing for over a year are gone. I've had a year off and now it's just I have to trust that I'm ready."
"The jitters and anxiousness will be there a little bit," Gumbs said. "But turning it into something positive so that we're ready will be really important. Spain definitely helped and we're all just really excited if anything to get ready."
The first official game in the Buff & Blue for the redshirt-sophomores will be Nov. 8 against James Madison. It will have been 612 days since Gumbs last played in an NCAA contest, 616 for Overcash. The moment can't come soon enough.
"It's on everything," Overcash remarked. "I even have an alert set on my phone."
"It's on every calendar, every family member's calendar," Gumbs said. "We're ready."
Part I: A Bond Born Through Adversity (Seniors Mei-Lyn Bautista and Kelsi Mahoney)
Part II: Surging Into Year Two (Sophomores Chyna Latimer, Lexus Levy and Neila Luma)
Life has a funny way of putting you in places you're supposed to be, even in a roundabout way. Redshirt-sophomores Olivia Gumbs and Sarah Overcash took the scenic route to GW, but as they enter their first year of competition with the Buff & Blue, both realize this is where they're supposed to be.
Gumbs and Overcash knew of GW when they were playing high school, as both were recruited by the former coaching staff before deciding to head to different locales. For Gumbs, the choice was Lafayette, where she starred as a unanimous All-Rookie performer in the Patriot League in 2016-17.
"I'm not from the area originally, but I'm happy to find my way back," Gumbs said.
Head coach Jennifer Rizzotti and the Colonials were happy to bring in the Newark, Del., native after she led the Leopards in points (10.5) and rebounds (7.2) in her first collegiate season. The former top-100 national recruit found an instant bond with Rizzotti.
"I was looking for a program that really had a consistent culture and values that really hone in to what I'm about," Gumbs said. "Having a coach who preaches it, and a team that really believes, is something that was really important."
Overcash, originally from nearby Chevy Chase, Md., was very familiar with the area after staring for four years at St. John's College High School in the District. She decided to head to Illinois for her first year, but home was calling after appearing in 26 games for the Fighting Illini.
"I wanted to come back home," Overcash said. "As soon as I started looking at the process, I didn't want to drop down academically so GW is where I wanted to come. When I met with the coaching staff, I realized it could not be a more perfect fit. I knew this is where I needed to be to get the most out of the year off."
Neither wanted to sacrifice their high academic standards, which made GW a good fit academically. It also meant having to sit out a year per NCAA transfer requirements. Gumbs, an international affairs major, and Overcash, a psychology major, knew that going into a year with no games to play would be difficult.
"I had a lot of people tell me that a sit-out year is going to be really tough," Overcash said. "But with the group of people we had last year and the coaching staff, I feel like I got so much out of it, and I wouldn't trade that year for anything. It made me that much readier and more driven for this year."
"It was definitely tough," Gumbs added. "We came in with a mindset of learning from everything we saw. Because when you're not playing, you have the ability to really absorb everything and understand what coach is asking of you."
Gumbs and Overcash participated in practice and took part in team activities, but the pair was not permitted to travel on the road per NCAA rules and had to make up for not playing in games by taking part in morning conditioning.
"Of course, you want to be out there with your team," Gumbs said. "They'd be getting ready to go to the game, and we'd be getting ready to stay here. It was hard because we loved our team and wanted to be with them, but we couldn't. We had to sit here and do everything we could to be ready for when they got back."
When the team hit the road, Gumbs and Overcash would meet up to keep track of the squad by any means necessary. The pair would typically meet for dinner and then watch the game on a tablet or laptop, eagerly awaiting their chance to play.
Nonetheless, it was a year of personal growth for the two newcomers, who used the year to their advantage by getting acclimated to the program.
"I've learned this before, but it was really prevalent here how important the little things are and how much they add up," Gumbs said. "Every coach preaches hustle and heart and competition, but it's really big here. You have to do it or you won't be successful."
"For me, it was learning how to do more of those little things like setting the right screen and reading the offense, Overcash said. "But also, it was about finding my voice as a leader of this team since it's a young team."
The opportunity to step in finally arose with the team's trip to Spain this summer as both were eligible to compete in the foreign tour. After a slow start, both broke out in the second game of the trip against the Valencia All-Stars – Gumbs posting a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds and Overcash adding 10 points and nine boards. The success brought about a sense of relief.
"Spain helped a lot with getting the nerves out," Overcash said. "Those jitters of not playing for over a year are gone. I've had a year off and now it's just I have to trust that I'm ready."
"The jitters and anxiousness will be there a little bit," Gumbs said. "But turning it into something positive so that we're ready will be really important. Spain definitely helped and we're all just really excited if anything to get ready."
The first official game in the Buff & Blue for the redshirt-sophomores will be Nov. 8 against James Madison. It will have been 612 days since Gumbs last played in an NCAA contest, 616 for Overcash. The moment can't come soon enough.
"It's on everything," Overcash remarked. "I even have an alert set on my phone."
"It's on every calendar, every family member's calendar," Gumbs said. "We're ready."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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