Women's Hoops Succumbs to James Madison

Friday, December 20

Washington, DC

7 p.m.

George Washington University

6-5,0-0Atlantic 10

James Madison

8-2,0-0CAA

James Madison

George Washington

12/20/2019 9:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Maund leads Colonials with 11 points and seven rebounds

WASHINGTON - GW women's basketball welcomed Sydney Zambrotta back to the line-up on Friday night after seven games missed due to injury, but in the return of the ACC transfer from Louisville, the Colonials were without their other ACC transfer in Ariel Stephenson, who returned to the DMV this past offseason after graduating from Wake Forest.

With the CAA preseason favorite James Madison Dukes in town after a lengthy nine-day break for GW during final exams, Zambrotta wasn't the only one who needed to shake off some rust after the layoff.

A slow start found the Colonials trailing 23-13 after the first quarter, but down just 37-32 at the intermission, led by redshirt freshman Tori Hyduke's seven points after two quarters. On the other side, the Dukes started warm and canned 6-of-16 first-half 3-pointers, paced by Jackie Benitez's three triples.

GW entered the final frame within single digits as James Madison clung to a nine-point lead, 52-43, but it was all Dukes late. Ultimately JMU fled D.C. with a 69-50 victory, led by CAA Preseason Player of the Year Kamiah Smalls. Smalls entered the contest with a 19.3 points per game average (23rd nationally) and upped her average on Friday with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field (3-of-5 3pt. FG). She was joined in double figures by Lexie Barrier's 12.

Another GW grad transfer, Yale product Alexandra Maund, paced GW in the scoring column with 11 points, while tying redshirt freshman Mayowa Taiwo for team-high rebounding honors with seven. Hyduke finished with 10 points for her ninth double-digit scoring performance in her first 11 career games.

GW now faces a quick turnaround before making the short trip across the city to visit American on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Smith Center faithful will see the Colonials again on Sunday, December 29th against William & Mary at 2 p.m.