This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Marty Fenn.
What: GW Women’s Basketball (6-2) vs. Illinois (3-4)
Where: The Smith Center, Washington, D.C.
When: Sunday, Dec. 4 at noon
The Colonials will host the Fighting Illini as they look to extend their winning streak to four games.
The Case for the Colonials
The Colonials stand at 6-2 after defeating VCU on Wednesday evening (also giving them their first conference victory in an unusually early A-10 matchup), and nearly overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat #20/21 Syracuse at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
What has been particularly notable for GW as of late is the offensive production across the board. Four players finished in double figures during the win against VCU, and 25 of the 32 made field goals came by way of an assist, a season-high for the Colonials.
Seniors Caira Washington and Hannah Schaible are the only players averaging double figures for the season (Washington at 13.0 ppg and Schaible at 10.8 ppg), but three members of the team have put up at least 8.0 points per game (Brianna Cummings, Lexi Martins and Kelli Prange).
The Colonials are shooting 43.3 percent from the field as a team, an immensely positive sign for a team that struggled with offensive efficiency last year.
The Colonials could use a fast start to set the tempo. The pace has been slow at times in the first half for GW, who usually find their energy in the third quarter, outscoring opponents 173-110 in that period.
The Case for the Illini
Illinois has struggled out of the gates, stumbling to a 3-4 record while averaging just 59.0 points per game on 35.7 percent shooting as a team. Opponents, however, haven’t fared much better trying to score against the Illini.
Head coach Matt Bollant’s team likes to slow the ball down and work the post, particularly finding sophomore forward Alex Wittinger the ball. In last season’s matchup against the Colonials, Wittinger went for 14 points and added seven boards.
If Wittinger can control the glass against Caira Washington and Lexi Martins and help slow the game down, the Illini may have a good chance.
Illinois will also have to force turnovers. For a team that doesn’t hold on to the ball well, they will need to create opportunities in transition and try to catch the Colonials off-guard. They cannot afford to let GW get into their motion offense and create chances around the perimeter
The Bottom Line
Illinois has not been playing good basketball, while the Colonials are finding their groove. If GW controls the ball and continue to get offensive contributions from guards and forwards, it’s going to be a long afternoon for the Illini.
