The GW women’s basketball team struggled offensively in a 64-40 loss to the University of Oregon Saturday afternoon at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
It was the Colonials’ lowest point total in coach Joe McKeown’s 16-year-career. The last time they scored less than 40 points was in 1989.
“We missed a lot of shots we usually make and we just didn’t execute real well,” McKeown said Sunday.
The Colonials (3-2) hung tough against the Ducks (5-0), trailing only 27-21 at halftime. However, the second half was a struggle for the Colonials, as they were outscored 37-19. The Colonials shot very poorly in the second half, only hitting on 16 percent of their shots.
GW scored just one field goal after the 9:41 mark in the second half.
“Both teams played great defense in the first half but in the second half they just wore us down with their height,” McKeown said. “We were working so hard defensively to stop them that on offense we took some quick shots and they took advantage.”
Senior Anna Monta?ana led the limited GW offense with 19 points. However, no other Colonial was in double figures, as senior Jessica Simmonds, who has been strong for GW this season, mustered just three points in 27 minutes.
“She is not a player that makes excuses and I think this kind of game happens to a lot of great players,” McKeown said. “She’ll be fine by Monday.”
Freshman Lisa Steele, who was one the Colonials’ top recruits last spring, saw the first action of her career, returning from a stress fracture in her foot. The rookie went 0-for-3 from the floor in four minutes while recording three fouls.
Sophomore Corrine Turner returned from bronchitis to score six points in 11 minutes.
The Colonials will look to get back on track Monday night when they travel to Utah’s Brigham Young University. The Colonials and Cougars met in 2002, when GW won 82-58 at the Smith Center.
“This is a big game because they are great team,” McKeown said. “I think every non-conference team we play is a team that is a quality team and all these games just help prepare us for the Atlantic 10 season.” n
