George Washington University Athletics
Women's Basketball Caps Spain Schedule
8/21/2018 5:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Colonials finish 2-2 on foreign tour
SANT JULIÀ de VILATORTA, Spain -- George Washington women's basketball closed its Spain exhibition schedule with a thriller Tuesday, showcasing the progress it's made in a short time in a 55-49 loss to seven-time defending Slovenian League champion ZKK Celje at Pavelló Esportiu Municipal.
After falling by 29 points to the decorated professional club on Monday, the Colonials prepared for the rematch with a defensive crash course during warm-ups before the rematch. Then, they came out and locked down their opponent in a battle to the wire.
"The fact that a young team was able to absorb that amount of information and apply it in a game and make a game of it against a really good pro team says a lot," GW head coach Jennifer Rizzotti said. "I was really happy with the toughness and the resilience and the maturity of our group."
GW's defensive improvement was evident from the opening tip. Once their shots started falling in the second half, the Colonials were ready to challenge ZKK Celje.
GW trimmed a 16-point deficit to 40-37 with a furious finish to the third quarter and cut it to two on Olivia Gumbs' three-point play early in the fourth quarter.
ZKK Celje restored its cushion with eight straight points, but the Colonials kept fighting until the final whistle with several chances to make it a one-possession game in the closing minutes.
"We took what (Rizzotti) said and learned," said senior guard Mei-Lyn Bautista, who had seven points. "That's what this trip is. We just want to learn and fix everything we can now. We came out and did what we could."
Lexus Levy and Maddie Loder led the second-half surge, netting nine points apiece after halftime.
Levy hit four 3-pointers for a team-high 12 points and also chipped in four assists and four rebounds, while Loder, a first-year guard, created her 11 points by mixing aggressive drives and deft outside shooting.
First-year forward Mayowa Taiwo provided a jolt of energy on both ends with seven steals and four offensive rebounds. Fellow newcomer Sydney Zambrotta added eight points, closing the trip averaging a team-best 12.3 points per game.
GW closes the trip at 2-2 following wins in Madrid and Valencia with its two defeats just outside of Barcelona. The Colonials will spend Wednesday in the city, highlighted by a tour of the famed Segrada Familia church, before heading back to Foggy Bottom on Thursday.
"What we're going to take away from this is much more than just the wins in the exhibitions, it's the learning how to play with one another," senior forward Kelsi Mahoney said. "We know this time getting to know one another is going to be a very vital key to our success this year."
Continue to follow along with the rest of the trip via GWSports.com, Twitter (@GW_WBB), Instagram (@GW_WBB) and Facebook (George Washington Women's Basketball).
After falling by 29 points to the decorated professional club on Monday, the Colonials prepared for the rematch with a defensive crash course during warm-ups before the rematch. Then, they came out and locked down their opponent in a battle to the wire.
"The fact that a young team was able to absorb that amount of information and apply it in a game and make a game of it against a really good pro team says a lot," GW head coach Jennifer Rizzotti said. "I was really happy with the toughness and the resilience and the maturity of our group."
GW's defensive improvement was evident from the opening tip. Once their shots started falling in the second half, the Colonials were ready to challenge ZKK Celje.
GW trimmed a 16-point deficit to 40-37 with a furious finish to the third quarter and cut it to two on Olivia Gumbs' three-point play early in the fourth quarter.
ZKK Celje restored its cushion with eight straight points, but the Colonials kept fighting until the final whistle with several chances to make it a one-possession game in the closing minutes.
"We took what (Rizzotti) said and learned," said senior guard Mei-Lyn Bautista, who had seven points. "That's what this trip is. We just want to learn and fix everything we can now. We came out and did what we could."
Lexus Levy and Maddie Loder led the second-half surge, netting nine points apiece after halftime.
Levy hit four 3-pointers for a team-high 12 points and also chipped in four assists and four rebounds, while Loder, a first-year guard, created her 11 points by mixing aggressive drives and deft outside shooting.
First-year forward Mayowa Taiwo provided a jolt of energy on both ends with seven steals and four offensive rebounds. Fellow newcomer Sydney Zambrotta added eight points, closing the trip averaging a team-best 12.3 points per game.
GW closes the trip at 2-2 following wins in Madrid and Valencia with its two defeats just outside of Barcelona. The Colonials will spend Wednesday in the city, highlighted by a tour of the famed Segrada Familia church, before heading back to Foggy Bottom on Thursday.
"What we're going to take away from this is much more than just the wins in the exhibitions, it's the learning how to play with one another," senior forward Kelsi Mahoney said. "We know this time getting to know one another is going to be a very vital key to our success this year."
Continue to follow along with the rest of the trip via GWSports.com, Twitter (@GW_WBB), Instagram (@GW_WBB) and Facebook (George Washington Women's Basketball).
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