This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Josh Solomon.
They shot 37.7 percent from the field, were in foul trouble all game, but the women’s basketball team opened the second half on an 8-0 run and used some defensive intensity to run away with a 72-56 victory over George Mason.
It marked GW’s (10-4, 1-0) sixth straight win and its first victory in Atlantic 10 conference play. 
“By no means were we dominant. There were definitely a lot of things for us to work on,” head coach Jonathan Tsipis said. “But I just believe that in A-10 play, you got to find ways when you’re not at your best offensively, and I think that’s with your defense and rebounding.”
In the first basketball meeting of the Revolutionary Rivalry, the Patriots found success early due to an over aggressive Colonials team. The Patriots started shooting in the bonus with over 12 minutes to play in the first half. Sophomore forward Jonquel Jones had just two fouls in the first four minutes of play.
But GW held George Mason (6-8, 0-1) to 33.3 percent shooting, marked by and 8-32 effort in the second half. The Colonials defensive pressure frustrated the strong Patriots backcourt, and the bigs dominated the glass, out rebounding George Mason 54-39.
Without leading scorer Megan Nipe out with a knee injury for her third straight game, and Jones in foul trouble most of the game, graduate student Danni Jackson led her team once again. She made just four of her 21 shots, but still put up 16 points, while adding nine assists to keep up the energy and pace of the Colonials
“It only feels a little different because this is my last season. I think I’m playing with a little more urgency in the previous years,” Jackson said. “I’m really hungry for these last couple of wins.”
The scoring attack was fairly balanced alongside Jackson, with Chakecia Miller and freshmen Caira Washington and Hannah Schaible all in double figures. Washington picked up a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Miller and Schaible added 13 and 12, respectively.
The Colonials were especially efficient at hitting shots when when they needed a basket to squander a potential Mason run.
With the score tied and 6:21 to go in the first half, head coach Jonathan Tsipis called a timeout after his defense allowed the Patriots top player, sophomore Janaa Pickard, who had a team-high 15 points, to make an open jumper near the free throw line.
About a minute later, Miller nailed a jumper assisted by graduate student Danni Jackson that sparked a 10-5 run to close out the half.
With 11:43 to go in the second half, Jackson was fouled driving down the lane, but knocked down the shot, and completed the three-point play at the line. That gave GW a 50-36 lead, ended a 6-0 Patriots 6-0 and put GMU’s leading scorer, Taylor Brown to the bench with her fourth person. Brown would finish with 13 points on the day.
“I think one thing we did really well in the first half was we kept them off the glass and I just think collectively we did a good job team-defense wise on Taylor Brown. She had three shots at the end, but she was stuck at six for a long time,” Tsipis said.
The Colonials won the battle on the offensive boards, picking up a total of 22, highlighted by Washington’s seven. This led to 28 points in the paint and 20 second-chance points for GW. The rebound total for the Colonials was a big uptick at 53, compared to their 41.5 average heading into the game.
A key presence for the Colonials came from a fully healthy graduate student Brooke Wilson, who has been battling knee problems for most of the season. She scored just four points, but brought down 10 rebounds and blocked two shots. Her defensive presence limited the attack of George Mason’s big Janna Pickard and caused trouble for the driving guards of Taylor Brown and Sandra Ngoie.
Wilson, who is in her sixth year with the team, has seen her fair share of games against the Patriots. The last four matches were won by the home team and Thursday night, the trend held, but Wilson could see a change.
“We’re definitely more dominant, especially under coach Tsipis and with his system.”
GW will go onto play defending A-10 champion Saint Joseph’s, Sunday afternoon. It will be their first road game since a loss to Georgetown in early December.
