George Washington University Athletics
Women’s Basketball Travels Down I-66 to Battle George Mason
2/16/2024 4:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON – The George Washington women's basketball team makes the short drive on 66 to battle nearby rival George Mason on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 p.m., inside EagleBank Arena with live coverage carried on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
GW picked up a key A-10 victory on Wednesday night, defeating La Salle 71-49 inside the Smith Center on Valentine's Day. The contest served as the program's annual Play4Kay Game, with GW debuting new pink jerseys. The victory marked the seventh time this season the Buff & Blue have held an opposing team to under 50 total points, all of which have resulted in wins for GDUB. The Revolutionaries have also scored 70 or more points in three matchups this year, going a perfect 3-0 in those contests as well.
Leading the way was Nya Robertson who poured in a game-high 25 points, including a halfcourt bomb that sank through the net as time expired in the first half. Robertson also added three rebounds and tallied four 3-pointers made. Aside from Robertson, Nya Lok and Essence Brown also hit double figures with 11 apiece, while first-year Kamari Sims tossed in eight. In another positive sign for GW, grad student Mayowa Taiwo was once again a monster on the glass, with yet another double-digit rebounding performance in her game-high 10-carom night. She was also an active facilitator, dishing four assists to pace all players. GW's defense set the tone for the game early, allowing just one made field goal in the opening quarter. As the hosts led 9-5 after ten minutes, it was clear that it would be a long night for the visitors. La Salle's shooting improved marginally, but the .316 effort (18-of-57) wasn't nearly enough to top GW's .403 mark, a number that included a solid 9-of-26 (.346) performance from three-point range.
TAIWO INCHES CLOSER
Following Taiwo's 10-rebound performance on Wednesday night, she now trails Jonquel Jones by 10 boards in GW's all-time rebounding leaderboard. Taiwo currently sits in fifth place on the list, needing just 11 to surpass Jones for fourth, and 20 to jump Tajama Abraham who places third in program history with 970. If Taiwo were to tally 49 more boards this season she would become just the third player in program history to achieve the feat, joining Caira Washington (1,063) and Darlene Saar (1,139).
Participation in Saturday's game at George Mason would also move Taiwo into a tie for first all-time in games played at GW. Taiwo would equal Abraham, Lisa Cermignano and Sarah-Jo Lawrence with 130 games played in their respective GW careers. If Taiwo were to compete in the Revolutionaries' next two games, she would break the program record next Wednesday at Duquesne.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
George Mason enters the DMV showdown sitting at 19-5 overall and 10-3 in Atlantic 10 action. The Patriots suffered a 75-67 loss at Davidson on Wednesday night, the team's second loss in three games. GW and George Mason previously met earlier this season, resulting in a 57-41 triumph for the Patriots on Jan. 24. GW holds a dominating 30-13 lead in the all-time series, but the Patriots have found recent success, winning three of the past five meetings.
Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis is in her third season as Mason's bench boss. She's tallied a record of 45-39 at the helm of the Patriots' program, and a 361-341 overall record in 24 years of collegiate coaching. Blair-Lewis holds a 2-2 mark against GW during her time in Fairfax, alternating wins with GW Head Coach Caroline McCombs since the two entered the A-10 together prior to the 2021-22 season. Blair-Lewis has guided Mason to the second-ranked offense in the conference, scoring 72.0 ppg. The Patriots also lead the A-10 in scoring margin, beating opponents by an average of 14.8 points, and are fifth in defense, allowing 57.2 points a night.
On the court, the Patriots are led by Sonia Smith who averages 14.7 ppg and 3.1 apg. Smith pulls down 3.4 rpg and shoots the ball at a 40.9% clip. Zahirah Walton also averages double digits at 11.6 ppg. Walton is second on the team in field goal percentage at 45.5%, and also ranks second in rebounds at 5.7 rpg. Mason's top rebounder is Nalani Kaysia who pulls down six per night, while Jazmyn Doster leads the team in field goal percentage at 46.3%.
LAST TIME OUT
GW picked up a key A-10 victory on Wednesday night, defeating La Salle 71-49 inside the Smith Center on Valentine's Day. The contest served as the program's annual Play4Kay Game, with GW debuting new pink jerseys. The victory marked the seventh time this season the Buff & Blue have held an opposing team to under 50 total points, all of which have resulted in wins for GDUB. The Revolutionaries have also scored 70 or more points in three matchups this year, going a perfect 3-0 in those contests as well.
Leading the way was Nya Robertson who poured in a game-high 25 points, including a halfcourt bomb that sank through the net as time expired in the first half. Robertson also added three rebounds and tallied four 3-pointers made. Aside from Robertson, Nya Lok and Essence Brown also hit double figures with 11 apiece, while first-year Kamari Sims tossed in eight. In another positive sign for GW, grad student Mayowa Taiwo was once again a monster on the glass, with yet another double-digit rebounding performance in her game-high 10-carom night. She was also an active facilitator, dishing four assists to pace all players. GW's defense set the tone for the game early, allowing just one made field goal in the opening quarter. As the hosts led 9-5 after ten minutes, it was clear that it would be a long night for the visitors. La Salle's shooting improved marginally, but the .316 effort (18-of-57) wasn't nearly enough to top GW's .403 mark, a number that included a solid 9-of-26 (.346) performance from three-point range.
TAIWO INCHES CLOSER
Following Taiwo's 10-rebound performance on Wednesday night, she now trails Jonquel Jones by 10 boards in GW's all-time rebounding leaderboard. Taiwo currently sits in fifth place on the list, needing just 11 to surpass Jones for fourth, and 20 to jump Tajama Abraham who places third in program history with 970. If Taiwo were to tally 49 more boards this season she would become just the third player in program history to achieve the feat, joining Caira Washington (1,063) and Darlene Saar (1,139).
Participation in Saturday's game at George Mason would also move Taiwo into a tie for first all-time in games played at GW. Taiwo would equal Abraham, Lisa Cermignano and Sarah-Jo Lawrence with 130 games played in their respective GW careers. If Taiwo were to compete in the Revolutionaries' next two games, she would break the program record next Wednesday at Duquesne.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
George Mason enters the DMV showdown sitting at 19-5 overall and 10-3 in Atlantic 10 action. The Patriots suffered a 75-67 loss at Davidson on Wednesday night, the team's second loss in three games. GW and George Mason previously met earlier this season, resulting in a 57-41 triumph for the Patriots on Jan. 24. GW holds a dominating 30-13 lead in the all-time series, but the Patriots have found recent success, winning three of the past five meetings.
Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis is in her third season as Mason's bench boss. She's tallied a record of 45-39 at the helm of the Patriots' program, and a 361-341 overall record in 24 years of collegiate coaching. Blair-Lewis holds a 2-2 mark against GW during her time in Fairfax, alternating wins with GW Head Coach Caroline McCombs since the two entered the A-10 together prior to the 2021-22 season. Blair-Lewis has guided Mason to the second-ranked offense in the conference, scoring 72.0 ppg. The Patriots also lead the A-10 in scoring margin, beating opponents by an average of 14.8 points, and are fifth in defense, allowing 57.2 points a night.
On the court, the Patriots are led by Sonia Smith who averages 14.7 ppg and 3.1 apg. Smith pulls down 3.4 rpg and shoots the ball at a 40.9% clip. Zahirah Walton also averages double digits at 11.6 ppg. Walton is second on the team in field goal percentage at 45.5%, and also ranks second in rebounds at 5.7 rpg. Mason's top rebounder is Nalani Kaysia who pulls down six per night, while Jazmyn Doster leads the team in field goal percentage at 46.3%.
Players Mentioned
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