This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Josh Solomon.
With the game tied at 67, and 1:46 left on the game clock, Saint Joseph’s finally had back all the momentum that they had lost with the game’s tip.
They had overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and watched as the Colonials, once again without leading scorer, graduate student Megan Nipe, became rattled down the stretch.
With just one second left on the shot clock – enough for maybe a lob to one of GW’s bigs who had dominated all game – the Colonials were forced to go to their last option on the play: graduate student Danni Jackson. She cut off a screen to the corner in front of the the Colonials bench and put up a desperate corner jumper. Nailed it.
“I just had the confidence to take the shot, thanks to my teammates really. They always believe in me even when I’m having a rough shooting night,” Jackson said. “I felt them all jump up when I hit the shot and I felt coach put his hands up as well.”
That shot would break the only tie in the game and serve as the deciding shot in an eventual 74-67 GW win at Atlantic 10 heavyweight, Saint Joseph’s.
The next play down the court, sophomore Jonquel Jones, who had a career day on her birthday with 21 points and 14 rebounds, cut in front of an entry pass for a steal. Freshman Caira Washington then drained two free throws on the other end to put her team up by four and give her a third consecutive double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds.
A few missed shots by the Lady Hawks and more free throws by GW, and the Colonials were able to extend their winning streak to seven straight, taking down the only A-10 team to receive votes in this past week’s AP poll. It was the first time GW had defeated Saint Joseph’s since 2008 – the last year that GW made it to the Sweet 16.
“Not just me specifically, I just feel like everybody has to step up with her [Nipe] being out. Everybody just came in and chipped in,” Jones said.
The Colonials won the game moving quickly on offense, dominating the boards and frustrating Saint Joseph’s on defense. They out rebounded the Lady Hawks 49-37, including 16 offensive boards.
It didn’t seem like the game was going to be this close in the first half, as GW opened up the game on an 11-0 run over the first five minutes of play. They would extend that lead to 24-8 with 10:30 to play in the first, as Saint Joe’s was shooting 28.6 percent from the field.
The Lady Hawks would finish the game at 35.8 percent, making one more field goal than the Colonials, but significantly under their 46.2 percent average that ranks 21st in the nation.
“You see their guards, but you know it had to be a team effort. A lot of times we changed how we guarded the ball-screen defense. But as much as they’re looking for those two kids, it’s the ball pressure, the positioning of the other kids as well” head coach Jonathan Tsipis said.
Saint Joseph’s, who came back from 12 down at halftime in its A-10 opener at Richmond Thursday, showed signs of another potential comeback at the end of the first half, with a half court buzzer-beater by the Lady Hawks leading scorer, senior Erin Shields, that cut the lead to 10. GW, though, held Shields – who was in foul trouble all game – to 11 points. Three other Hawks scored in double figures, marked by a team-high 18 points from sophomore Ciara Andrews.
The Colonials will return home Wednesday to face Saint Louis (5-9, 0-1), likely without Nipe for another game as Tsipis waits until he has full clearance from his medical staff. The Bilkens lost to Fordham on the road, 74-52, in their A-10 opener and will be well rested after their game against Dayton, Sunday, was postponed.
“We showed a lot of resilience and composure tonight,” Jackson said. “it’s always a lot of fun when you’re winning on the road and at home so we just want to keep the momentum going and the win streak going as well.”