George Washington University Athletics
Women's Basketball Adds Two Graduate Transfers for 2019-20
5/6/2019 12:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Stephenson, Maund join fray from Wake Forest and Yale
WASHINGTON - GW women's basketball has inked a pair of graduate transfers to its roster for the 2019-20 season, head coach Jennifer Rizzotti announced on Monday. Ariel Stephenson from Wake Forest and Alexandra Maund from Yale will join the team this summer and become immediately eligible in the fall.
"We are excited to welcome two new members to our basketball family in Ariel and Alexandra," Rizzotti said. "We are fortunate that the George Washington University has such outstanding graduate programs that make it an attractive place for players to finish their careers.
"We have graduated multiple All-Conference caliber players in the past three seasons and we have a young team void of seniors. For that reason, we are excited to welcome two fifth-year players who will have the opportunity to get on the court right away and help us return back to the top of the A-10."
Stephenson comes to GW after becoming the 25th player in Wake Forest history to reach 1,000 points, finishing with 1,079 in three years for the Demon Deacons. The 5-10 guard missed the 2018-19 season due to offseason shoulder surgery, but received a medical redshirt and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Hailing from Prince George, Va., Stephenson was a top-50 recruit nationally coming out of Prince George High School and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2015-16. For her career, she averaged 11.7 points per game, 2.1 assists per game and played 31.3 minutes per contest while starting 79 games for the Deacs.
"I chose GW because of its stellar reputation for academics and athletics," Stephenson said. "I believe the environment is conducive to growth; it's a place where I feel I can grow both on and off the court. I look forward to becoming a part of the team and working with Coach Rizzotti to bring home a championship."
"We are thrilled to have Ariel joining our program," Rizzotti said. "She is a proven scorer and competitor in a strong conference. We were really impressed with her mature approach to the game and her excitement to help us bring another championship to GW."
Maund hails from Dorchester, Mass., and appeared in 85 games during the last three years for the Bulldogs, starting three in 2018-19. The 5-11 forward averaged 3.7 points during her career, seeing more action each season. This past year, she doubled her previous career best with 5.8 points per game on 51.6% shooting and also chipped in a career-best 4.2 rebounds per game in 18.3 minutes per contest. She missed her freshman year with an injury and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Prior to Yale, she attended the Noble and Greenough School in Massachusetts and was a three-year letterwinner for the three-time NEPSAC Class A Champions. Her older brother, Aaron, played soccer at Notre Dame from 2008-12 and is currently playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS. She also has a younger sister, Adia.
"I chose George Washington for a number of reasons," Maund said. "The university has one of the best programs in the country for the master's degree in Public Relations that I want to pursue. The location of D.C. is unparalleled in diversity and culture, on top of the added bonus that I have family in the area.
"I'll have the opportunity to compete for a championship under the guidance of one of the great legends of women's basketball, Jen Rizzotti. I am confident that she will push me to be the best basketball player and person I can be. I don't think I could have asked for more."
"Alexandra is a great fit for GW," Rizzotti said. "She is driven both in the classroom and on the basketball floor, and is ready for the challenge of A-10 basketball. She'll bring maturity and leadership to our young players and provide a level of competitiveness and playing experience to our post group.
The duo joins incoming first-years Faith Blethen and Essence Brown as new faces to the GW roster. Additionally, redshirt freshman Tori Hyduke and Mayowa Taiwo are anticipated to make their Buff & Blue debuts in 2019-20 after medical redshirts alongside redshirt junior Sydney Zambrotta, who sat out 2018-19 after transferring in from Louisville.
"We are excited to welcome two new members to our basketball family in Ariel and Alexandra," Rizzotti said. "We are fortunate that the George Washington University has such outstanding graduate programs that make it an attractive place for players to finish their careers.
"We have graduated multiple All-Conference caliber players in the past three seasons and we have a young team void of seniors. For that reason, we are excited to welcome two fifth-year players who will have the opportunity to get on the court right away and help us return back to the top of the A-10."
Stephenson comes to GW after becoming the 25th player in Wake Forest history to reach 1,000 points, finishing with 1,079 in three years for the Demon Deacons. The 5-10 guard missed the 2018-19 season due to offseason shoulder surgery, but received a medical redshirt and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Hailing from Prince George, Va., Stephenson was a top-50 recruit nationally coming out of Prince George High School and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2015-16. For her career, she averaged 11.7 points per game, 2.1 assists per game and played 31.3 minutes per contest while starting 79 games for the Deacs.
"I chose GW because of its stellar reputation for academics and athletics," Stephenson said. "I believe the environment is conducive to growth; it's a place where I feel I can grow both on and off the court. I look forward to becoming a part of the team and working with Coach Rizzotti to bring home a championship."
"We are thrilled to have Ariel joining our program," Rizzotti said. "She is a proven scorer and competitor in a strong conference. We were really impressed with her mature approach to the game and her excitement to help us bring another championship to GW."
Maund hails from Dorchester, Mass., and appeared in 85 games during the last three years for the Bulldogs, starting three in 2018-19. The 5-11 forward averaged 3.7 points during her career, seeing more action each season. This past year, she doubled her previous career best with 5.8 points per game on 51.6% shooting and also chipped in a career-best 4.2 rebounds per game in 18.3 minutes per contest. She missed her freshman year with an injury and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Prior to Yale, she attended the Noble and Greenough School in Massachusetts and was a three-year letterwinner for the three-time NEPSAC Class A Champions. Her older brother, Aaron, played soccer at Notre Dame from 2008-12 and is currently playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS. She also has a younger sister, Adia.
"I chose George Washington for a number of reasons," Maund said. "The university has one of the best programs in the country for the master's degree in Public Relations that I want to pursue. The location of D.C. is unparalleled in diversity and culture, on top of the added bonus that I have family in the area.
"I'll have the opportunity to compete for a championship under the guidance of one of the great legends of women's basketball, Jen Rizzotti. I am confident that she will push me to be the best basketball player and person I can be. I don't think I could have asked for more."
"Alexandra is a great fit for GW," Rizzotti said. "She is driven both in the classroom and on the basketball floor, and is ready for the challenge of A-10 basketball. She'll bring maturity and leadership to our young players and provide a level of competitiveness and playing experience to our post group.
The duo joins incoming first-years Faith Blethen and Essence Brown as new faces to the GW roster. Additionally, redshirt freshman Tori Hyduke and Mayowa Taiwo are anticipated to make their Buff & Blue debuts in 2019-20 after medical redshirts alongside redshirt junior Sydney Zambrotta, who sat out 2018-19 after transferring in from Louisville.
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