Women's Basketball Dominates Duquesne, 63-45

Friday, February 12

Washington, DC

5 p.m.

George Washington University

5-12,2-9Atlantic 10

Duquesne

2-8,1-5Atlantic 10

Duquesne

George Washington

2/12/2021 8:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Colonials drill nine 3-pointers, limit Dukes to season low in points

WASHINGTON - Junior guard Maddie Loder knocked down three 3-pointers in the opening three minutes on Friday night at the Smith Center, setting the tone for GW women's basketball in a 63-45 romp over Duquesne in the team's first game in 11 days.

The long ball was the story of the offense for GW, as Loder and graduate student Jasmine Whitney combined for five treys in the opening 10 minutes alone. The Colonials went on to hit nine long balls in total, their most in nearly two years, blowing past the previous season high of five.

Despite the hot offensive start, GW couldn't shake the Dukes for most of the first half, but swung the momentum in its favor with five points in the final 40 seconds of the second quarter. Whitney knocked down her third triple of the game to put the Buff & Blue ahead 32-31 and redshirt sophomore Mayowa Taiwo, in her return to the lineup, converted on a putback as time expired to give GW a 34-31 halftime edge.

Those five points were the beginning of a scintillating 21-2 run that ultimately lasted over 10 minutes bridging halftime, pushing GW ahead 50-33.

After the offense lit up the nets in the first half, it was the Buff & Blue's defense that stole the show after intermission. The Colonials limited Duquesne to five points in the third quarter and just 14 in the second half on 3-of-16 shooting. The Dukes, coming off a nearly month-long pause, committed 11 of their 19 turnovers in the second half and were held to a season-low 45 points.

Loder, who had made four 3s total this season prior to today, matched that mark with her perfect 4-of-4 showing from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 15 points. First-year Ali Brigham scored 13 points and Whitney, per usual, stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Taiwo provided eight points, eight rebounds and three steals in her first game since Jan. 17 as all nine Colonials who played in the game scored.

GW shot a season-best 51 percent from the floor thanks, in part, to 30 points in the paint and 19 points off Duquesne turnovers.

The Buff & Blue will look to keep the good vibes going on Valentine's Day when they welcome in St. Bonaventure for a noon tip on ESPN+.