If they didn’t know before, the Colonial women now know that a basketball game lasts until the final buzzer, with three of their last four wins coming in the final seconds of play. Against Temple and Richmond earlier this week, Anna Montanana bailed the team out with last-second baskets for one-point victories. Friday against St. Bonaventure, Cathy Joens and Erica Lawrence gave the Colonials a last-second lift for the win.
Head coach Joe McKeown gives credit to his team’s heroics in the final seconds but emphasizes that the hustle his team shows all game puts them in position for a late-game comeback.
“I told the team that the game lasts 40 minutes. Just because a shot doesn’t go in or you don’t shoot well in the first half doesn’t mean you’re not going to win,” he said after the Richmond game.
The late-game heroics seem to be working. With victories over St. Bonaventure and La Salle, the Colonials extended their wining streak to 10 games. They remain the only undefeated team in the Atlantic 10.
GW 87, La Salle 61
Feb. 3
Philadelphia
GW was rewarded with a relatively easy win over La Salle, compared to the hard-to-come-by victories against Richmond, St. Joe’s and Temple.
La Salle (4-17, 0-10 A-10) is in last place in the Atlantic 10 West with a perfect losing record. The Colonials extended their win streak to 10 games, as La Salle extended its losing streak to 10.
Cathy Joens scored 17 points, going 5-for-8 from three-point range. This marks the fourth game in a row that Joens has been the high-point scorer for the Colonials. Joens, who has averaged 22 points a game and seven rebounds, picked up her third A-10 Player of the Week award after her performance this weekend.
Joens led a balanced offensive attack by the Colonials that saw five players score in double figures and shot over 60 percent in the second half.
Low-post players Ugo Oha and Anna Montanana seemed to snap out of their slumps. Montanana, who scored only four points in Friday’s contest with St. Bonaventure, picked up 13 points in 22 minutes. Oha, who has described her recent play as “cautious,” netted 14 and picked up the only five blocks of the game. Valerie Williams also saw time inside, picking up 10 points.
Freshman guard Greeba Outen Barlow had a strong game, playing 22 minutes and scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Lindsey Davidson was perfect from behind the arc, netting three for nine total points.
The lone double-figure scorer for the Explorers was Kat Foley with 18. La Salle shot less than 40 percent on the day including 25 percent from three-point range (5-of-20). The Colonials, in comparison, shot 58 percent from behind the arc (10-of-17).
GW 63, St. Bonaventure 60
Feb. 1
Olean, N.Y.M
Cathy Joens scored a career-high 27 points Friday, leading the Colonial women over St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies managed to tie the game at 60 with 54 seconds remaining, but an Erica Lawrence lay up and a free throw by Joens put the Colonials ahead for good.
The Bonnies (12-7, 6-2 A-10) have fared surprisingly well in the Atlantic 10 conference this season. After finishing last season 10th in the conference at 3-10, they turned it around and have only lost twice in conference action this season. The loss to the Colonials was the Bonnies second home loss of the season.
The Colonials trailed the Bonnies for 10 minutes until Joens went on an 8-0 run, nailing two free throws and two three-pointers to put the Colonials up 21-19. After another three-pointer, the Colonials continued to dominate the first half. With another three-pointer from Joens, GW entered the locker room up 36-28.
The Bonnies gradually made their way back into the game tying it at 52-52. Another run by Joens salvaged the game for the Colonials. She scored six points, including her fourth three-pointer to help GW keep the lead until the Bonnies tied the game at 60.
Ugo Oha and Lindsey Davidson contributed 10 points apiece for the win. Anna Montanana, who started and played 33 minutes, her most of the season, scored four points on 2-for-7 shooting.
