The GW women’s basketball team remains undefeated in the Atlantic 10 and continues to plow past opponents no matter the circumstance. This weekend, the Colonials (12-6, 6-0 A-10) headed north for a two-game road trip against Massachusetts and struggling Fordham, winning both contests by 28 points. Erica Lawrence, Kristeena Alexander and Lindsey Davidson led the team.
Coach Joe McKeown said the team’s undefeated A-10 status is a welcome change from the season’s start.
“It’s exciting right now especially being up and down in non-conference games and going 6-6,” McKeown said. “We’re starting to play better.”
The Colonials played without second-leading scorer Petra Dubovcova, who left the Fordham game after receiving an elbow to the head. The GW senior did not play against UMass, but McKeown said he expects her to play Wednesday against Duquense.
“We have so many threats on this team that no matter who’s playing, we have five scoring threats,” Davidson said.
GW’s bench was also key in both road wins, combining for 23 points against Fordham, and the Colonials played well defensively, forcing 24 UMass turnovers.
GW 74, UMass 46
Saturday, Jan. 20
Tri-captain Kristeena Alexander matched Massachusetts’ total scoring in the first half with 16 points, leading GW to an overwhelming 74-46 victory Saturday at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass. Alexander finished with 23 points and five rebounds.
“It was one of the best games I’ve seen her play in three years,” McKeown said. “She was hitting her open three-pointers and she played great defense.”
The Colonials never trailed in the contest. Part of the reason was Alexander’s dominance offensively, both feeding the ball to teammates and slashing her way to the basket.
UMass’ cold shooting and slippery ball control also contributed to the rout. GW made 13 steals, but even with the ball the Minutewomen shot just 13-for-52 from the floor.
The Colonials, meanwhile, shot 26-for-56 and led 44-16 at halftime. The Minutewomen (8-9, 3-3) were within 12 points for much of the second half until an 18-2 run broke the game open and led GW to its third straight win.
Davidson scored 16 points and Erica Lawrence, the team’s scoring leader, added 12 points. Freshman Ugo Oha had 11 points.
Paige Harris led UMass with 12 points on four three-pointers.
GW 89, Fordham 61
Thursday, Jan. 18
Without Petra Dubovcova, the team’s dominant inside player, sophomore Erica Lawrence drove the Colonials past host Fordham 89-61 Thursday night at the Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx, N.Y.
Lawrence scored a career-high 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting. At one point, the sophomore sunk eight straight baskets before her only miss of the second half.
Lawrence led GW to 56 percent shooting in the first half, and 57 percent in the second half (31-for-56 overall). The Colonials shot 46 percent from three-point range (6-for-13).
The GW defense forced 25 turnovers against Fordham (4-12, 1-4 A-10), who has not beaten GW since 1996. The Colonials scored 33 points off turnovers.
Freshman Alexis Darling scored a career-high six points.
