One More Shot

12/18/2019 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, My GW: Celebrating our Stories

Graduate transfers have offered leadership and more for women's basketball

By: Eric Detweiler, GW Athletics Communications

Ariel Stephenson and Alexandra Maund don't need words. A glance is generally enough.

The growing moments come daily for GW women's basketball with a lineup full of first-years and sophomores. Often, they are providing lessons that the pair of graduate students learned long ago by making the same youthful mistakes.

"We laugh at each other a lot," Stephenson said with a smile. "Just the maturity that we have, we can look at each other and know what the other is thinking."

"It's really nice," Maund added. "Because I feel like there's someone else who gets it."

Not that Stephenson and Maund are complaining.

On the contrary, both signed on to join the Colonials believing in this group's potential for a deep March run. They have been eager to help nurture that growth, quickly emerging as leaders for the Buff and Blue in their final collegiate season.

Both have made a difference on the court after coming back from early-season injuries: A transfer via Wake Forest, Stephenson has contributed in the back court with her scoring touch and savvy defending, while Maund has added much-needed depth inside after four seasons at Yale showcasing a crafty game on both ends.

As the Buff and Blue make final preparations for Atlantic 10 play, the veteran newcomers have delivered exactly what head coach Jen Rizzotti hoped.

"The great thing is there's no agenda with them," Rizzotti said. "They're not first-years coming in and trying to prove themselves. They're not guys coming back trying to earn a starting spot. They came here for one year to help us win a championship. It's all about 'How can I help us get there?'"

Stephenson has a special appreciation for this opportunity. The Virginia native has worked hard to get back in action following three shoulder surgeries, the most recent of which sidelined her all of last season. A preseason ankle injury made the wait even longer.

Stephenson's not playing like she wants to yet, but she's averaged 7.1 points, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals over seven games, five of them GW victories. The 5-foot-10 guard's best outing came at Delaware when she pumped in 13 points, including a 6-for-6 effort from the foul line, with four steals in a season-high 35 minutes.

"It felt really good," said Stephenson, who scored 1,079 points in 92 games at Wake Forest. "Those were the moments I could just think about last year sitting on the bench or just watching practice. I had to have a lot of patience, and games like that are what let you know that it's paid off."

Rizzotti believes Stephenson's impact goes far beyond the stat sheet, though.

Since arriving in Foggy Bottom over the summer, the veteran guard has been a coach on the court. Her focus and intensity, even in pregame walkthroughs, have provided a lift for everyone in the program.

"She's the most vocal player I've ever coached, in terms of being non-stop and maintaining the level of positive reinforcement but also being demanding," Rizzotti said. "She has a way about her where she just is infectious, and the players really, really have responded to her leadership style."

Stephenson traces that attitude to her early days at Wake Forest. After a few quiet practices, a coach advised the youngster "Just be yourself out there."

"And I haven't shut up since," Stephenson deadpanned.

Playing under the distinguished Rizzotti was a key factor in Stephenson's decision to pick the Colonials over a host of other suitors. She has put in the time to learn the nuances of the veteran coach's system and asked plenty of questions to fill in the gaps.

She's relished the chance to mentor GW's young guards like Tori Hyduke and Maddie Loder along the way.

"In basketball, everyone has to work together," said Stephenson, who is pursuing a master's degree in Sport Management. "Even if I don't know what I'm doing all the time, I'm going to tell you what I'm doing, so you at least know and we can work together to get it right."

Maund's leadership style isn't as obvious, but her role as a steadying presence for a still-growing bunch is no less important. Her cheery and caring personality made her an instant hit in the GW locker room.

"Alex is always thinking about others," Rizzotti said. "She sees when someone is down. She sees when someone's body language is bad. She sees when someone needs a little pick-me-up, and she's the first one to go over."

An example everyone can smile about now: When a fellow Colonial got makeup on her jersey after a video shoot earlier this season, she tearfully turned to Maund for help. The graduate student headed to the locker room for OxiClean spray to get out the stain and then worked on calming down her teammate.

"It's a lot of little things that make me laugh," Maund said. "They call me 'The Problem Solver' because whatever it is, I'm like 'Alright, we're going to be fine. Let's figure this out.'"

Maund's on-court approach is similarly calm, cool and collected. She's pushed sophomore center Kayla Mokwuah in practices and found ways to help the Colonials in games. She brings an understated confidence developed over 90 career collegiate games, playing hard and making good decisions.

GW missed her when she was out for five contests due to a foot injury, but she returned to the starting lineup on Dec. 7 at Quinnipiac and produced her best game in Buff and Blue. With most of her former Yale teammates and a group of family from the Boston area in the crowd, she piled up 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks in a 78-67 victory.

For the season, Maund is averaging 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds over 20.0 minutes through five games.

"She just keeps her poise," Rizzotti said. "She knows how to get the ball when we're throwing it around being crazy. She knows how to get herself a good shot. She knows how to get fouled. She makes her free throws. And she's good about knowing the scout and just bringing that fifth-year maturity."

Maund had a year of eligibility remaining after missing her first season at Yale due to a torn ACL. The 5-foot-11 forward made the decision to play her final year in Buff and Blue – and pursue a master's in Media and Strategic Communication – after visiting on a beautiful spring day in the District.

Rizzotti's pitch to both Maund and Stephenson leaned heavily on the chance to win a conference title and play into the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

Stephenson was part of a pair of WNIT appearances at Wake Forest, while Maund's closest call came as a junior when Yale advanced to the Ivy League semifinals.

Maund jumped at the opportunity to chase a title with a program that's made three NCAA appearances in the past five years, and she's perhaps even more excited for one final postseason push after watching her teammates continue to grow over the first six weeks of the season.

There are still moments when Maund has to share a knowing giggle with Stephenson, but she's also certain the Colonials are getting better every day.

"I feel so extremely fortunate to be here," Maund said. "The (NCAA Tournament) is something I left my undergrad experience feeling like I missed out on.

"To get this opportunity again and know that I'm surrounded by such great young basketball players who are so willing to learn and so energetic about our opportunity has been a blessing for me."