Wednesday, January 15
Saint Louis, MO
8:00 p.m.
George Washington University
at
Saint Louis
Women’s Basketball Travels West, Battles Saint Louis Wednesday Night
1/14/2025 10:31:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON – The George Washington women's basketball team continues Atlantic 10 action on Wednesday night, traveling to Saint Louis for an 8:00 p.m. tip. Live coverage against the Billikens will be carried on ESPN+.
ENGEL CATCHES FIRE AGAINST THE DUKES
After struggling to find a consistent shooting stroke from long-range early in the season, senior Maxine Engel heated up in a big way on Saturday against Duquesne. As the only true senior on the roster this season, Engel poured in a season-high 18 points, finishing 7-for-9 from the field in the matinee contest. Included in her overall shooting was a 4-for-6 mark from long range, setting a new career-best for 3-pointers made in a single game. Engel's previous best was three, set on three separate occasions earlier in her career. After putting up three points in the first half, Engel caught fire in the third quarter, scoring or assisting on GW's first 12 points out of the halftime break. Ten of the 12 points were recorded by Engel, including two three-pointers in that stretch. Engel would go on to score 15 points in the second half to lead the Buff & Blue.
POSTSEASON REMATCH
Wednesday's meeting with the Billikens will be the first time the two programs have met since squaring off in the second round of the 2024 A-10 Championship last season. Saint Louis got the better of GW that day, winning the matchup, 75-68, to advance in the postseason. After falling in the semifinals to Rhode Island, Saint Louis went on to claim the 2024 WNIT title, defeating Minnesota, 69-50, on April 6.
Since joining the Atlantic 10 prior to the 2005-06 season, GW has won 12 of the 19 meetings against the Billikens all-time. The Buff & Blue captured eight of the first nine meetings between 2006-14, but has since lost five of the past six meetings dating back to 2019. Including last year's postseason matchup, the two programs have met twice in the A-10 Championship. GW won the first meeting, 77-63, in 2015.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS
Saint Louis enters the week 6-11 overall and is the only remaining winless team in conference action at 0-4. The Billikens have lost four straight but haven't suited up since last Wednesday at St. Bonaventure, a full seven days of rest between contests. This season, Saint Louis has faced Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Davidson and the Bonnies in conference play. They've lost those games by a combined total of 80 points.
Rebecca Tillett is in her third season as head coach of the Billikens, boasting a 45-47 overall record with the program. In her seven seasons as a head coach, Tillett has amassed a mark of 96-115, including five seasons at the helm of Longwood's women's basketball program. In her first season in Saint Louis, Tillett and the Billikens got hot at the right time, running the table and winning the 2022-23 A-10 Championship. Their run was part of a stretch that saw the program win 11 of their last 12 games, eventually falling to fourth-ranked Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Offensively, Saint Louis is led by Payton Kennedy who averages 14.5 points a night. She's shooting 35.4% from the floor and is also second on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.3 a game. Tierra Simon is first on the team and second in the conference in rebounding this season pulling down a monster 10.6 boards a game. She's already eclipsed 159 carroms through 15 games played this season, and also chips in 7.5 points per game as well. Brooklyn Gray (11.7 ppg), Kennedy Calhoun (10.6 ppg) and Shun'teria Anumele (10.2 ppg) round out SLU's top scorers this season.
ENGEL CATCHES FIRE AGAINST THE DUKES
After struggling to find a consistent shooting stroke from long-range early in the season, senior Maxine Engel heated up in a big way on Saturday against Duquesne. As the only true senior on the roster this season, Engel poured in a season-high 18 points, finishing 7-for-9 from the field in the matinee contest. Included in her overall shooting was a 4-for-6 mark from long range, setting a new career-best for 3-pointers made in a single game. Engel's previous best was three, set on three separate occasions earlier in her career. After putting up three points in the first half, Engel caught fire in the third quarter, scoring or assisting on GW's first 12 points out of the halftime break. Ten of the 12 points were recorded by Engel, including two three-pointers in that stretch. Engel would go on to score 15 points in the second half to lead the Buff & Blue.
POSTSEASON REMATCH
Wednesday's meeting with the Billikens will be the first time the two programs have met since squaring off in the second round of the 2024 A-10 Championship last season. Saint Louis got the better of GW that day, winning the matchup, 75-68, to advance in the postseason. After falling in the semifinals to Rhode Island, Saint Louis went on to claim the 2024 WNIT title, defeating Minnesota, 69-50, on April 6.
Since joining the Atlantic 10 prior to the 2005-06 season, GW has won 12 of the 19 meetings against the Billikens all-time. The Buff & Blue captured eight of the first nine meetings between 2006-14, but has since lost five of the past six meetings dating back to 2019. Including last year's postseason matchup, the two programs have met twice in the A-10 Championship. GW won the first meeting, 77-63, in 2015.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS
Saint Louis enters the week 6-11 overall and is the only remaining winless team in conference action at 0-4. The Billikens have lost four straight but haven't suited up since last Wednesday at St. Bonaventure, a full seven days of rest between contests. This season, Saint Louis has faced Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Davidson and the Bonnies in conference play. They've lost those games by a combined total of 80 points.
Rebecca Tillett is in her third season as head coach of the Billikens, boasting a 45-47 overall record with the program. In her seven seasons as a head coach, Tillett has amassed a mark of 96-115, including five seasons at the helm of Longwood's women's basketball program. In her first season in Saint Louis, Tillett and the Billikens got hot at the right time, running the table and winning the 2022-23 A-10 Championship. Their run was part of a stretch that saw the program win 11 of their last 12 games, eventually falling to fourth-ranked Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Offensively, Saint Louis is led by Payton Kennedy who averages 14.5 points a night. She's shooting 35.4% from the floor and is also second on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.3 a game. Tierra Simon is first on the team and second in the conference in rebounding this season pulling down a monster 10.6 boards a game. She's already eclipsed 159 carroms through 15 games played this season, and also chips in 7.5 points per game as well. Brooklyn Gray (11.7 ppg), Kennedy Calhoun (10.6 ppg) and Shun'teria Anumele (10.2 ppg) round out SLU's top scorers this season.
Players Mentioned
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