Bautista, Mahoney Key Women’s Basketball’s 55-54 Win at Duquesne

Sunday, January 27

Pittsburgh, Pa.

2 p.m.

George Washington University

8-12, 5-2 A-10

Duquesne

11-9. 5-2 A-10

George Washington

Duquesne

Bautista, Mahoney Key Women’s Basketball’s 55-54 Win at Duquesne

1/27/2019 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Seniors combine for 37 points as GW improves to 5-2 in league play

PITTSBURGH – GW women's basketball relied upon its senior duo of Mei-Lyn Bautista and Kelsi Mahoney to build a 24-point lead on Sunday at Duquesne before holding on for dear life and pulling out a 55-54 triumph at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

For the second time in as many games, GW (5-2 A-10) encountered a team at the top of the Atlantic 10 standings riding an elongated winning streak. The Colonials were not deterred in defeating the Dukes (5-2 A-10), who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

The Colonials dominated the first 30 minutes of the contest, leading by as many as 24 late in the third quarter, its largest lead of the season. Duquesne, which had struggled all day offensively, suddenly found its stroke and outscored GW 34-11 over the final 12:30 minutes.

With its lead trimmed to one in the final 10 seconds, GW came up with a game-winning defensive stand, forcing an off-balance layup from Chassidy Omogrosso that landed in the hands of Mahoney as time expired.

Mahoney's career-best 11^th board was part of the senior's first career double-double. The senior tied her career-high in both made 3-pointers (5) and points (17) while rounding out the day with an authoritative five blocks, also a career-high.

Not to be outdone, Bautista picked up from where she left off on Wednesday vs. VCU, knocking down a career-high six 3s for the second-straight game and finishing with 20 points, three assists and three steals.

The savvy point guard got GW off to a great start with a trio of triples in the opening stanza as the Colonials built up a 16-9 advantage after 10 minutes. Then, it was GW's suffocating defense that flummoxed the Dukes to a 1-for-13 showing in the second quarter.

GW entered the half with a 27-14 advantage, the lowest output for an opponent in a half this season. Out of the break, Mahoney assumed control with consecutive 3s midway through the third quarter to put the Colonials ahead 36-18.

She then passed the baton to Bautista, who scored eight points in a two-minute stretch, featuring a 25-foot, heat-check, step-back triple that grew the lead to its largest at 44-20 with 2:30 left in the frame.

At the time, GW had held Duquesne to 7-of-39 shooting (17.9 percent) as Bautista had equaled the Dukes output.

Duquesne then began to gain momentum with a 16-2 run, closing to within 10 with 7:30 remaining. GW briefly pushed the lead back to 51-36 on a layup from sophomore Chyna Latimer with 4:09 left, but the Colonials would not hit another field goal the rest of the way.

Omogrosso, who scored 13 of her team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, caught fire from the floor and nearly brought Duquesne all the way back, closing to within a possession in the final 10 seconds.

GW was whistled for an intentional foul with nine seconds remaining as Duquesne hit both free throws to close the gap to one. But strong defense from Bautista, and the ensuing rebound by Mahoney provided an apropos ending to the Colonials' third road win in as many tries in league play.

The Buff & Blue ended up tying a season-high with 11 made 3-pointers on 27 attempts (40.7 percent). GW shot 34.5 percent (19-for-55) for the game and held Duquesne to 29.7 percent (19-for-64).

Having climbed to third in the A-10 standings, GW will face yet another team ahead of it on the table by welcoming the second-place Davidson Wildcats (6-1 A-10) on Thursday. The special Field Trip Day contest is set for a 12 p.m. tip from the Smith Center.