Arwen Clemans | Assistant Photo Editor
The women’s basketball term circles up and listens to Head Coach Caroline McCombs to conclude an October practice.
Women’s basketball will be looking for a stronger Atlantic 10 performance after ending their season ranking 11th in the conference out of 15 teams.
The Revolutionaries welcomed nine new players to the squad this season after ending their 2023-24 season with a 13-18 overall record, including 6-12 in the A-10. After falling short to the Saint Louis Billikens 75-68 on March 7 in the first round of the conference tournament last year, the team aims to restructure after a massive roster overhaul this offseason that retained just five players from last season.
Senior forward Maxine Engel is the only returning player who averaged at least 12 minutes per game. A key departure for the Revs is forward Mayowa Taiwo, who graduated after five years of donning the Buff & Blue and is first and third in program history in games played and total rebounds, respectively. Without her, the team is missing a key fixture in the frontcourt and will need to work together to replace her paint prowess.
“It’s gotta be a total team effort, not just gonna have one person dominating the boards,” Head Coach Caroline McCombs said. “Just have to be disciplined — one shot, and then everyone’s tracking down that ball.”
Guard Nya Robertson, who led the team in points per game last season with 16.2, transferred to Southern Methodist University. Assists-leader guard Asjah Innis, who averaged 2.3 assists per game last season, transferred to Appalachian State University. Their absences leave gaps in the backcourt to be filled by a mixture of new and returning players.
To make up for its lack of GW experience, the team brought in key graduate student transfers like guard Makayla Andrews and forward Paige Mott, who could rely on their years of college play. McCombs said she expects Mott — a 6’1” transfer forward who averaged 4.9 rebounds a game in her senior year for Northwestern last season — to make an offensive impact this season for GW.
“Paige Mott, needing that post presence for us inside,” McCombs said. “Lot of experience for her as well.”
Andrews, who scored more than 1,000 points during her four years at Lafayette University, brings with her point-scoring ability that was lost with Robertson’s departure. She averaged 13.2 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game in her senior season.
Also bringing height and experience is graduate student Mariona Planes Fortuny, who scored more than 1,200 points in her four years at Bryant University. Standing at 6’1,” she played this summer for her native Spain in the FIBA 3×3 Nations League 2024 tournament.
Andrews said despite being new to the team, she, Planes Fortuny and other graduate student transfers serve as a veteran presence to younger teammates.
“I mean, we both have four years under our belt, so we know what it’s like to be in college games in those situations,” Andrews said. “So just bringing our experience and putting it into the system and also following the system and leading by example.”
McCombs said Andrews’ performance and guard experience at Lafayette and during this offseason impressed her, and she is excited to see how she performs this season.
“She’s great at getting to the basket, she can shoot the open shot, she’s a great teammate,” McCombs said.
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