Sunday, February 2
Washington, DC
2 p.m.
George Washington University
9-12,3-5Atlantic 10
45
vs
59
Saint Louis
12-9,4-4Atlantic 10
1
2
3
4
F
Saint Louis
15
15
16
13
59
George Washington
15
9
8
13
45
Women's Basketball Slips Against SLU, 59-45
2/2/2020 4:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Zambrotta and Mokwuah reach double figures off the bench
WASHINGTON - Call it Super Sunday, Groundhog Day, or 02-02-2020, what Sunday presented for the George Washington women's basketball team was a chance to secure its second three-game winning streak of the season after a four-game run of success the spanned the end of November into December, and an opportunity to pull even in conference play at 4-4.
In the way stood the Saint Louis Billikens, also the owners of a 3-4 mark in conference entering play, as the teams looked to break the tie in their favor in the quest for favorable seeding come March's A-10 Championship. Unfortunately for the home team, it was the visitors who left with the even record in the A-10, as GW saw its mini two-game winning streak come to an end against the stout SLU D, 59-44.
The Billikens brought one of the country's stingiest defenses to D.C., with the A-10's second-best scoring defense and 36th nationally-ranked unit. SLU was also ranked 47th nationally in field goal percentage allowed, and showed off its credentials in a stifling second quarter. After a first 10 minutes that saw the teams draw in a 15-15 stalemate, GW was held to 3-of-9 shooting from the field in the next 10 minute session, and without a made field goal in the final 4:21 of the quarter, as the Midwesterners secured a 30-24 halftime edge for the game's biggest lead to that point. Saint Louis' edge at the intermission was due in large part to the first half marksmanship of Rachel Kent, who despite entering play averaging 10.2 points per game, accounted for exactly half of her team's first half points in a 5-of-6 shooting show from three-point range.
Sydney Zambrotta did her best to keep up with Kent in the scoring column, with eight first half points, all of which came in the first quarter. Zambrotta though was held in check until the 5:14 mark of the third quarter, as after Saint Louis' clamps were put down midway through the second, the visitors then extended their 30-24 edge to 39-24 with the first nine points of the third quarter until Zambrotta broke the seal midway through the third to bring the Colonials within 13 at 39-26 just before the third quarter media timeout.
No strangers to coming back from double-digits, with five such comebacks to win this season, GW's task was a bit tougher Sunday against the stingy Billikens. Alas, the comeback wasn't to be in this one, as outside of Zambrotta (team-high 16 points on 5-of-11 FG), the Colonials couldn't find their range. Sophomore Kayla Mokwuah gave GW another double-digit scorer with 12 and she added a game-high eight rebounds, but Saint Louis had more firepower behind Kent. Kent finished with a game-high 19, with Myia Clark (16) and Ciaja Harbison (13) also scoring 10+. The Billikens connected on 9-of-16 three-pointers (.563) compared to GW's 4-of-20 (.200), accounting for the difference in the 14-point game.
Deviating a bit from the Wednesday-Saturday schedule that the Colonials have grown accustomed to in the last two weeks, the Buff and Blue get an extra day to rest and prepare for their next clash. St. Bonaventure will welcome GDUB to Olean, N.Y. on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tip from the Reilly Center on ESPN+.
In the way stood the Saint Louis Billikens, also the owners of a 3-4 mark in conference entering play, as the teams looked to break the tie in their favor in the quest for favorable seeding come March's A-10 Championship. Unfortunately for the home team, it was the visitors who left with the even record in the A-10, as GW saw its mini two-game winning streak come to an end against the stout SLU D, 59-44.
The Billikens brought one of the country's stingiest defenses to D.C., with the A-10's second-best scoring defense and 36th nationally-ranked unit. SLU was also ranked 47th nationally in field goal percentage allowed, and showed off its credentials in a stifling second quarter. After a first 10 minutes that saw the teams draw in a 15-15 stalemate, GW was held to 3-of-9 shooting from the field in the next 10 minute session, and without a made field goal in the final 4:21 of the quarter, as the Midwesterners secured a 30-24 halftime edge for the game's biggest lead to that point. Saint Louis' edge at the intermission was due in large part to the first half marksmanship of Rachel Kent, who despite entering play averaging 10.2 points per game, accounted for exactly half of her team's first half points in a 5-of-6 shooting show from three-point range.
Sydney Zambrotta did her best to keep up with Kent in the scoring column, with eight first half points, all of which came in the first quarter. Zambrotta though was held in check until the 5:14 mark of the third quarter, as after Saint Louis' clamps were put down midway through the second, the visitors then extended their 30-24 edge to 39-24 with the first nine points of the third quarter until Zambrotta broke the seal midway through the third to bring the Colonials within 13 at 39-26 just before the third quarter media timeout.
No strangers to coming back from double-digits, with five such comebacks to win this season, GW's task was a bit tougher Sunday against the stingy Billikens. Alas, the comeback wasn't to be in this one, as outside of Zambrotta (team-high 16 points on 5-of-11 FG), the Colonials couldn't find their range. Sophomore Kayla Mokwuah gave GW another double-digit scorer with 12 and she added a game-high eight rebounds, but Saint Louis had more firepower behind Kent. Kent finished with a game-high 19, with Myia Clark (16) and Ciaja Harbison (13) also scoring 10+. The Billikens connected on 9-of-16 three-pointers (.563) compared to GW's 4-of-20 (.200), accounting for the difference in the 14-point game.
Deviating a bit from the Wednesday-Saturday schedule that the Colonials have grown accustomed to in the last two weeks, the Buff and Blue get an extra day to rest and prepare for their next clash. St. Bonaventure will welcome GDUB to Olean, N.Y. on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tip from the Reilly Center on ESPN+.
Team Stats
SLU
GWU
FG%
.396
.333
3FG%
.563
.200
FT%
.667
.636
RB
41
28
TO
13
9
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
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