As impressive as the GW women’s basketball team’s 72-54 victory over Georgetown University was Monday, even more amazing is that GW registered a double-digit victory without four of its top players in the rotation.

Center Khadija Deas, forward Noelia Gomez, and guards Kristeena Alexander and Marlo Egleston all missed the first game of the season. Alexander, a transfer student from George Mason University, will be benched until Dec. 22 because of NCAA rules. Egleston also is prevented from playing for three more games because of a violation of NCAA rules stemming from her participation in an unsanctioned league this summer.

Gomez is recovering from a knee sprain and is listed as day-to-day, and Deas is suffering from a herniated disk in her back and will be out several more weeks.

The absence of Gomez and Deas was felt in the rebounding department, especially in the first half, when GW was outrebounded 24-14. Forward Petra Dubovcova, herself recovering from a serious knee injury from last season, brought down six of her team-high 10 rebounds in the second half, during which the Colonial women outrebounded the Hoyas 22-20.

Egleston’s absence shortened GW’s bench even more, as non-starters contributed just one point in Monday’s game.

All four players should be in the rotation by the start of conference play, and with a full, healthy and experienced team available, GW head coach Joe McKeown knows the possibilities.

“We’ll probably be a different team by mid-January,” McKeown said. “But look out, when I get Petra and Noelia, Kristeena, Marlo and Khadija, we’re going to be OK.”

-Zach Leibowitz contributed to this report.