Women’s Basketball Tests #15/13 NC State in 69-61 Setback

Friday, November 23

Cancun, Mexico

4 p.m.

George Washington University

1-5

#15/13 NC State

6-0

GEORGE WASHINGTON

NC STATE

11/23/2018 6:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Colonials put three in double figures, hit 11 three-pointers

CANCUN, Mexico – GW women's basketball found itself in a four-point game in the fourth quarter against #15/13 NC State on Friday afternoon at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, showing moxie in the second day of a back-to-back against ACC competition at the Cancun Challenge.

The Colonials (1-5) had a pair of chances to cut the deficit to one possession, but came up empty on both trips and saw the Wolfpack (6-0) then go on a 10-0 run that put the contest away in a 69-61 defeat.

For the second straight day, GW used its sharp-shooting from beyond the arc to stay within shouting distance all afternoon. The Colonials hit 11 triples – five from senior Mei-Lyn Bautista and four from fellow senior Kelsi Mahoney. Bautista's five triples tied her career-high and equaled her total from Thursday.

The Queens native had 19 points to lead GW, including 10 in the first half. Mahoney fell just a point shy of her career-high with 16 points while adding five rebounds and dishing out a career-best four assists.

Sophomore Neila Luma gave GW three double-figure scorers with 14 points, two shy of her career-high. Overall, the Colonials shot 39 percent, but kept track of the basketball with a season-low five turnovers compared to the Wolfpack's 15.

NC State hit five triples in the opening quarter, but GW battened down to limit the Pack to 3-for-18 shooting from deep over the final 30 minutes. Grace Hunter led three State players in double figures with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Pack led by nine (21-12) after one, and increased the lead to 10 at 27-17 before an 8-1 spurt from GW brought the Colonials within three (28-25) on a banked-in triple from Anna Savino.

The Buff & Blue utilized the open floor space inside to work close as Luma connected on consecutive shots from the paint to close the gap to two at 33-31 late in the second quarter. State would finish the half with a layup to take a four-point lead into intermission.

Bautista canned a triple to start the second half, slicing the deficit to just one at 35-34. The Colonials got within one on five separate occasions in the third quarter, the last of which came on another Bautista three with 4:09 remaining to make it 47-46. After a two-minute scoring drought, NC State went inside to score the final eight points of the quarter, six of which came at the free throw line.

Unwavering, GW used a quick 7-0 spurt to get within 57-53 on a Mahoney three with 8:09 left. The Buff & Blue wouldn't score for another six minutes, though, on a second Mahoney triple. In between, NC State scored 10 straight to put the game out of reach.

GW will now set its sights on a three-game homestand that begins on Tuesday with local counterpart Towson visiting the Smith Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.