This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Rob Bartnichak.
Who: GW vs. Florida Gulf Coast
When: Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
Where: Alico Arena, Fort Myers, Fla.
The 40th season of women’s basketball will officially get underway Friday when GW takes on Florida Gulf Coast on the road. The last time the two teams met, in the first round of the 2009 WNIT, it took double overtime for the Eagles to win 97-94.
Another competitive match, which will air on ESPN3, could be in store for Friday. Here’s what you need to know:
The case for FGCU:
After a 26-8 season and a trip to the NCAA tournament for its seventh consecutive postseason appearance, the Eagles were selected as the preseason favorite in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
The Colonials will need to tap into the defensive rhythm they displayed in the exhibition against Virginia Union to contain FGCU and A-Sun Preseason Player of the Year Whitney Knight. Last season, Knight averaged 12.3 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game, and led the league with 85 total three pointers.
The Eagles boast a trio of Preseason All-Conference picks, with Knight and guards Stephanie Haas and Jenna Cobb earning spots on the Preseason All A-Sun team. Haas averaged 11.6 points per game and shot 43.9 percent from the field last year, while Cobb, last season’s A-Sun Conference Tournament MVP, averaged 8.6 points per game and racked up 81 assists.
FGCU’s 70.1 points per game were good enough for second in the A-Sun last year. GW will need to work a little harder to force turnovers Friday, as the Eagles were first in their conference with a +4.41 turnover margin.
The case for GW
The Colonials’ biggest advantage is in the rebound department, in which they led the Atlantic 10 with a +6.5 margin last season. FGCU struggled on the boards and finished ninth of ten A-Sun teams last season at -3.8.
GW’s rebounding ability was on display against Virginia Union, as they finished with a 49-31 rebounding advantage. Junior Jonquel Jones, sophomore Caira Washington and freshman Brianna Cummings all tied for the team lead with eight rebounds each.
A second key for GW will be taking care of the ball. After finishing second in the conference and turning the ball over 19 times in the exhibition game, the Colonials will face a team that led the A-Sun with 601 takeaways, beating second-place Stetson by more than 40.
GW may also look to take shots from outside, where they could get a boost. The Colonials shot 37 percent (10-27) from beyond the arc in the exhibition, including a perfect three-for-three from sophomore Hannah Schaible. FGCU finished fourth of ten A-Sun teams in three-point defense last year.
After the Florida trip, GW will return to the District to face off against a crosstown rival, in a game at American on Monday at 5 p.m.
