Levy, Luma Set Career-Highs in 64-59 Win at Rhode Island

Wednesday, January 9

Kingston, R.I.

7 p.m.

George Washington University

4-11

Rhode Island

6-8

George Washington

Rhode Island

1/9/2019 9:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Colonials use 13-0 fourth-quarter run to rally for first A-10 victory

KINGSTON, R.I. – A 13-0 run in the midst of the fourth quarter surged the GW women's basketball team to a gritty, come-from-behind 64-59 road victory at Rhode Island on Wednesday night at the Ryan Center. Sophomores Neila Luma and Lexus Levy led the charge with career-high outputs.

GW entered the fourth quarter trailing by one and allowed a pair of free throws to open the frame to fall behind, 48-45. From there, the Colonials orchestrated one of their strongest stretches of play all season with a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to move in front 58-48.

Luma and Levy were key in the stretch, combining for the first 10 points of the spurt. Back-to-back layups from Luma put GW up 49-48 before the duo connected on consecutive three-point plays to open the edge up to 55-48. Senior Kelsi Mahoney provided the exclamation point with her second 3-pointer of the day from the left wing, making it 58-48 GW.

URI did not go quietly, hitting a trio of 3s as part of a 11-3 run to close within two in the final minute. Luma was fouled with 45 seconds remaining, missed both free throws, but forced a travel on the Rams on the rebound.

URI fouled on the ensuing inbounds and was called for an additional technical foul, allowing GW to salt the game away. The Buff & Blue hit three-of-four at the line to grow the lead back to five at 64-59 and a missed triple at the other end effectively ended the game.

Luma became the first Colonial to score 20 points in a game this season, hitting the mark on 8-of-19 shooting. The sophomore also added nine rebounds, tying her season best.

Levy canned a career-high four 3-pointers as part of a career-best 16-point effort. Mahoney gave GW three players in double figures as she added 12 points and seven rebounds. Floor general Mei-Lyn Bautista dished out five assists and added six points and five boards in another all-around effort.

Neither team led by more than four prior to GW's 13-0 outburst, as the game was all square at 16 after one and tied 30-30 at the break. A sloppy third quarter from GW saw 10 turnovers lead to seven Rhode Island points, but the Colonials stayed within striking distance thanks to 54.5 percent shooting in the frame.

GW ended up shooting 50 percent in the second half compared to URI's 40.7 percent. The Buff & Blue had a slim 38-36 edge in rebounds, but its advantage in points off turnovers (20-14) and bench points (20-12) proved to be the ultimate factors in the first conference victory of the season.

GW looks to build off the momentum from the road triumph as it returns home for a clash with perennial power Dayton on Saturday at 12 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and is part of a doubleheader with the men's team, which takes on Richmond at 4 p.m.