George Washington University Athletics
Sunday, December 21
Washington, DC
1 p.m.
George Washington University
vs
Northwestern
Women’s Basketball Welcomes Back a Legend, Hosts Northwestern on Sunday
12/18/2025 2:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON – The George Washington women's basketball team looks for its sixth-consecutive victory, welcoming back coaching legend and GW Athletics Hall of Famer Joe McKeown and his Northwestern squad on Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on ESPN+.
MCKEOWN COMES HOME
McKeown returns to GW amid the Charles E. Smith Center's 50th anniversary season, home of GW basketball since 1975-76. McKeown's coaching career is tightly woven with the history of both the building and GW women's basketball's historic success. He remains the program's all-time winningest coach with 441 victories, a winning percentage of .741 (441-154), and a stellar 250-52 (.828) mark in A-10 conference play.
"The McKeown family is really excited to return to GW and the Smith Center," said McKeown in early July. "All of my children were born at George Washington University Hospital, and my wife, Laura, is a GW graduate. The legacy we built throughout my 19 years is all thanks to the incredible fans and players we had."
McKeown's guidance helped propel GW to 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including four bids to the Sweet Sixteen and a trip to the Elite Eight in 1996-97. He coached seven All-Americans, was named the A-10's Coach of the Year on five occasions and has seen 16 of his former players inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame. McKeown was inducted in 2012, while his 1996-97 team was enshrined in 2019.
"Joe McKeown is synonymous with GW women's basketball, and we're thrilled to welcome him home to Foggy Bottom this season," said Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. "His former players and all GW women's basketball alumni look forward to celebrating him during this special, full-circle moment for the McKeown family and the George Washington University community."
GW will travel to Chicago to face Northwestern during the 2026-27 season, on a date to be determined later.
LOOKING FOR SIX IN A ROW
A win on Sunday would mark the sixth-consecutive victory for the Buff & Blue, the longest winning streak the program has enjoyed since the 2016-17 season, GW's last A-10 regular season championship.
GW has found its groove since a slow 2-5 start, outscoring opponents by 10.2 ppg over this five-game streak. Leading the charge is standout sophomore Gabby Reynolds, who's scored in double figures in seven-consecutive games. Reynolds is averaging a team-best 15.0 ppg, good enough for 10th-best in the conference. The Buff & Blue have also cut turnovers down by a wide margin, averaging just 12.2 over the last five games, compared to 18.6 over the team's first seven contests.
ON THE CUSP OF 500
Sunday's win over American marks the 498th win for the program inside the Smith Center. With a win over Northwestern, GW would have a chance to eclipse the 500-win mark on Dec. 28th vs. Coppin State. The Smith Center has treated GW well over the years, with the team holding a 498-192 (.722) all-time record at home.
In the 50 completed seasons in program history, GW has posted a winning record at home 40 times, with the 1996-97 Elite Eight team registering 18 home wins, the most in program history.
During the program's dominant McKeown era, GW went 19-straight years recording double-digit home wins between the years of 1990-2009. Three teams from that era went undefeated at home, including the 1995-96 team (12-0), the 1999-2000 team (15-0) and the 2006-07 team (13-0).
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern enters the weekend 6-5 overall, having suffered a one-point loss to fellow A-10 member Loyola Chicago on Thursday afternoon. After winning its first six games of the season, Northwestern has now lost five straight, including an early Big Ten matchup with Ohio State. The two programs have met just one time prior, a 61-46 victory for the Buff & Blue at home in the opening round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament, the same season GW advanced to the Elite Eight.
Offensively, the Wildcats are paced by Grace Sullivan, who's averaging 22.4 ppg and grabbing 7.8 rebounds per contest. Sullivan ranks
second in the Big Ten, and 10th nationally, in points per game. Tayla Thomas is the only other member of the team averaging double figures, putting in 10.9 ppg and grabbing a team-best 9.6 rebounds per game. Thomas led the way in Thursday's loss to the Ramblers, pouring in 30 points and grabbing 11 boards. Charlotte Lau leads the nation in assists, already tallying 104 this season, averaging 9.5 per contest. Northwestern's full 2025-26 season stats can be found here.
MCKEOWN COMES HOME
McKeown returns to GW amid the Charles E. Smith Center's 50th anniversary season, home of GW basketball since 1975-76. McKeown's coaching career is tightly woven with the history of both the building and GW women's basketball's historic success. He remains the program's all-time winningest coach with 441 victories, a winning percentage of .741 (441-154), and a stellar 250-52 (.828) mark in A-10 conference play.
"The McKeown family is really excited to return to GW and the Smith Center," said McKeown in early July. "All of my children were born at George Washington University Hospital, and my wife, Laura, is a GW graduate. The legacy we built throughout my 19 years is all thanks to the incredible fans and players we had."
McKeown's guidance helped propel GW to 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including four bids to the Sweet Sixteen and a trip to the Elite Eight in 1996-97. He coached seven All-Americans, was named the A-10's Coach of the Year on five occasions and has seen 16 of his former players inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame. McKeown was inducted in 2012, while his 1996-97 team was enshrined in 2019.
"Joe McKeown is synonymous with GW women's basketball, and we're thrilled to welcome him home to Foggy Bottom this season," said Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. "His former players and all GW women's basketball alumni look forward to celebrating him during this special, full-circle moment for the McKeown family and the George Washington University community."
GW will travel to Chicago to face Northwestern during the 2026-27 season, on a date to be determined later.
LOOKING FOR SIX IN A ROW
A win on Sunday would mark the sixth-consecutive victory for the Buff & Blue, the longest winning streak the program has enjoyed since the 2016-17 season, GW's last A-10 regular season championship.
GW has found its groove since a slow 2-5 start, outscoring opponents by 10.2 ppg over this five-game streak. Leading the charge is standout sophomore Gabby Reynolds, who's scored in double figures in seven-consecutive games. Reynolds is averaging a team-best 15.0 ppg, good enough for 10th-best in the conference. The Buff & Blue have also cut turnovers down by a wide margin, averaging just 12.2 over the last five games, compared to 18.6 over the team's first seven contests.
ON THE CUSP OF 500
Sunday's win over American marks the 498th win for the program inside the Smith Center. With a win over Northwestern, GW would have a chance to eclipse the 500-win mark on Dec. 28th vs. Coppin State. The Smith Center has treated GW well over the years, with the team holding a 498-192 (.722) all-time record at home.
In the 50 completed seasons in program history, GW has posted a winning record at home 40 times, with the 1996-97 Elite Eight team registering 18 home wins, the most in program history.
During the program's dominant McKeown era, GW went 19-straight years recording double-digit home wins between the years of 1990-2009. Three teams from that era went undefeated at home, including the 1995-96 team (12-0), the 1999-2000 team (15-0) and the 2006-07 team (13-0).
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern enters the weekend 6-5 overall, having suffered a one-point loss to fellow A-10 member Loyola Chicago on Thursday afternoon. After winning its first six games of the season, Northwestern has now lost five straight, including an early Big Ten matchup with Ohio State. The two programs have met just one time prior, a 61-46 victory for the Buff & Blue at home in the opening round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament, the same season GW advanced to the Elite Eight.
Offensively, the Wildcats are paced by Grace Sullivan, who's averaging 22.4 ppg and grabbing 7.8 rebounds per contest. Sullivan ranks
second in the Big Ten, and 10th nationally, in points per game. Tayla Thomas is the only other member of the team averaging double figures, putting in 10.9 ppg and grabbing a team-best 9.6 rebounds per game. Thomas led the way in Thursday's loss to the Ramblers, pouring in 30 points and grabbing 11 boards. Charlotte Lau leads the nation in assists, already tallying 104 this season, averaging 9.5 per contest. Northwestern's full 2025-26 season stats can be found here.
Players Mentioned
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