GW lost its first game of its Italian tour yesterday, falling 68-54 to Fortitudo Bologna.

Fortitudo Bologna competes in the Italian Lega Due, the second-highest level of competition in Italy. The team was the toughest opponent the Colonials have faced, according to a University release that called it “bigger, stronger and smarter than any team GW had played in Italy to this point.”

The Colonials were only down three after a quarter, 20-17, but saw their Italian opponents take over for the rest of the game. Bologna applied heavy defensive pressure, fortifying it with quick passing to put GW behind by 13 points. Junior forward Nemanja Mikic drained three second-half treys in an attempt to overcome Bologna’s salvo, but his efforts weren’t enough to help the Colonials to victory.

Mikic paced GW with 11 points, followed by freshman forward Joe McDonald, who added nine, but didn’t return to competition after a mid-court collision in the second quarter.

The Colonials next square off against a select team from Varese, Italy.