Women's Basketball Entertains Monmouth Sunday

Sunday, December 2

Washington, D.C.

2 p.m.

George Washington University

Monmouth

11/30/2018 2:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

GW hosts middle game of three-game homestand

WASHINGTON - GW women's basketball continues its three-game homestand with a visit from the Monmouth Hawks on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The game is the second part of a home-and-home agreement and is Monmouth's first visit to the District in 34 years.

The Colonials are 2-1 at the friendly confines at 22nd and G thus far this year, besting Ivy League-favorite Princeton and knocking off local nemesis Towson on Tuesday.

LAST TIME OUT: The Buff & Blue picked up their second win of the campaign, 76-63, over Towson Tuesday. Neila Luma (18 points), Maddie Loder (15), Kayla Mokwuah (12) all recorded new career highs and were three of five players in double figures for GW. The Colonials posted their second-highest shooting percentage of the year (.412) and are now 2-0 when shooting at least 40.0 percent this season.

RIGHTING THE SHIP OFFENSIVELY
For the fourth straight game, GW increased its production in points and shooting percentage. Since the loss to then-No. 9/10 Maryland, the Colonials have found better offensive flow in each successive game:

TEAM	FG%	ASSISTS	POINTS
Iona	37.5	11	43
Georgia Tech	39.1	12	55
NC State	39.3	14	61
Towson	41.2	14	76

The last three games in particular have shown the most growth on the offensive end as the young group becomes acclimated in head coach Jennifer Rizzotti's plan of attack:

FIRST 4 GAMES	CATEGORY	LAST 3 GAMES
43.5	PPG	64.0
30.2 (63/208)	FG%	39.8 (63/158)
25.3 (17/67)	3PT%	34.2 (26/76)
9.0	APG	13.3

THE GOOD KIND OF D.C. SHUTDOWN
As has been the case under Rizzotti, GW once again possess a strong defensive unit, holding opponents to 60.3 points per game, fourth-best in the A-10. GW is allowing just 53.5 points per game to non-Power 5 schools and has held six of its seven opponents to below its season average entering the game (2017-18 stats for JMU):

TEAM	PPG ENTERING	POINTS	DIFFERENCE
JMU	63.9	50	-13.9
Princeton	89.0	49	-40.0
Maryland	87.5	69	-18.5
Iona	40.7	52	+11.3
Georgia Tech	76.8	70	-6.8
NC State	76.0	69	-7.0
Towson	74.4	63	-11.4

The Buff & Blue boasted a top-50 defense nationally in 2017-18, allowing just 58.5 points per game. GW has finished among the top 50 in both years under Rizzotti. Dating back to her time at Hartford, Rizzotti's team's have allowed fewer than 60 points per game in four straight seasons.

NEUTRALIZING THE TOP SCORER
One of the primary reasons for the team success has been the point of emphasis to slow down opposing team's top scorers. Thus far, GW has held the opposition's top threat below her season average in six of the seven games:

PLAYER/TEAM	PPG ENTERING	POINTS	DIFFERENCE
Smalls, JMU	15.0 (2017-18 avg)	14	-1.0
Rush, Princeton	25.0	5	20.0
Mikesell, Maryland	16.5 (co-leader)	13	-3.5
Charles, Maryland	16.5 (co-leader)	12	-4.5
Rachu, Iona	14.3	20	+5.7
Pan, Georgia Tech	16.8	15	-1.8
Leslie, NC State	14.8	6	-8.8
Jeter, Towson	24.6	17	-7.7

A LOOK AT THE HAWKS
Monmouth enters Sunday's matchup on a two-game win streak following its 55-50 triumph over Sacred Heart last Sunday. The Hawks and Colonials feature similar profiles with Monmouth being held below 50 points in three of its four setbacks this season. Sierra Green leads a balanced attack for the Hawks with 12.7 points per game as one of 10 players who averaged between 10 and 30 minutes per game. The Hawks were picked seventh in the preseason MAAC poll and represent the second opponent from the conference for GW this year. In its earlier matchup, the Colonials fell at Iona, 52-43.