Women's Basketball Dropped by Dukes

Wednesday, February 27

Washington, D.C.

7 p.m.

George Washington University

10-18 (7-8)

Duquesne

16-12 (10-5)

Duquesne

George Washington

2/27/2019 9:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Luma notches first double-double of the season

WASHINGTON - In its final home game of the 2018-19 regular season, the George Washington women's basketball was questing for another tip this season at the Charles E. Smith Center. When the Atlantic 10 Championship commences on Tuesday, March 5th, teams seeded 3rd-8th will host teams seeded 9th-14th in First Round action. For GW, a perennial A-10 force on its home floor, hosting a first round game would be welcome, and the Colonials played like it for the first 20+ minutes on Wednesday night.

Playing without starting senior point guard and captain Mei-Lyn Bautista (concussion protocol), first-year Maddie Loder stepped into the role of primary ball-handler and led GW with 14 points. Though neither squad found consistent offense early, when a Kelsi Mahoney three-ball to open the second half found its mark, the Buff and Blue led 24-22 with less than 20 minutes to play.

That's when Duquesne got hot and the visitors enjoyed a 42-32 edge between the third and fourth quarters to take the 64-53 win back to Pittsburgh. GW held the Dukes to .231 and .357 shooting, respectively, in the first two stanzas, but Duquesne found the touch in the halftime locker room and shot a combined 15-of-29 in the third and fourth. Chassidy Omogrosso was particularly effective without the harassing defense of Bautista on her, as the 5-foot-4 dynamo finished with a game-high 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting (3-of-5 from 3-point range).

Neila Luma notched her first double-double of the season for GW with a matching 10-point, 10-rebound effort, while first-year Kayla Mokwuah continued her emergence with a near double-double of nine points and a game-high 11 boards.

Without Bautista, GW looked to a crew to get in the act of making baskets for others and six different Colonials noticed at least two assists. For the Dukes, Libby Bazelak enjoyed an all-around game, pacing her squad with 10 rebounds and six assists while also dropping in 10 points.

In order for GW to host the opening round on Tuesday night, a win at Richmond (5-10 in conference play) at 11 a.m. on Saturday is necessary, coupled with a Saint Joseph's (7-8 in conference) loss to Fordham (12-3 in conference) at home at noon.