This post was written by Hatchet reporter Alexandra Kist.
After falling to Saint Mary’s 79-49, GW came into battle against North Carolina A&T hoping to claim victory and continue a 7-7 non-conference opponent record for a second year in a row. But in the first Colonial match-up against the Aggies, they fell short, losing 67-56.
The Aggies jumped out in front of the Colonials, taking the momentum of the game with a 6-0 lead within the first two minutes. GW countered that intensity with several steals by graduate student forward Tara Booker and sophomore guard Chakecia Miller and a three-pointer by senior forward Megan Nipe to temporary pull ahead, 7-6.
“My team plays hard and has the faith that no matter what the deficit is, they have the mindset to chip away at it and put themselves in a good position to succeed,” head coach Jonathan Tsipis said.
Both teams went back and forth with the lead until two free throws from senior guard Shi-Herria Shipp gave the Colonials a four-point lead with just five minutes to go in the half.
But GW quickly lost its lead due to the Aggies’ effective turnovers and defensive strategies, which contributed to their 10-1 run ending the half on top, 26-21. The Colonials were left a five-point deficit to compensate at the start of the second half.
“We weren’t playing our best basketball yet,” Tsipis said. “It was about a three or four point-game with 10 minutes to go, but we had a little foul trouble.”
To close in on the Aggies’ lead at the onset of the second half, the team needed to make constructive adjustments on the offensive and defensive fronts.
“We can’t give up easy baskets off of missed free throws and we have to convert our rebounds,” said Tsipis.
The Aggies took control of the second half before the Colonials could strike back, commanding 30-23 lead. The Colonials responded with stellar trey by Booker, which led to alternating baskets between both teams, keeping the Colonials with the Aggies.
Fouls on both sides of the court were a key part of the second half – especially against the Colonials. The team’s fouls led to 26 free throw attempts in the second half, of which the Aggies converted 18.
“When you go on the road, you have to adjust to how the game is going to be called. The fouls that were called on us during the second half were due to us not as being as disciplined as we’re capable of being,” Tsipis said.
North Carolina A&T maintained their lead throughout the entire second half, despite Shipp’s career-high of 16-points, and Nipe’s season-high of 15 points. The Colonials made three more field goals in the second half than the Aggies, but were outscored at the free throw line by 11 points – the difference in the final outcome of the game.
“The Aggies were at the double bonus nine minutes into the second half. Even when they went through a scoring drought field goal wise, they were still able to get to the line. We have got to be more aggressive and disciplined on the defensive end,” Tsipis said.
Next Saturday, the Colonials face Massachusetts in an A-10 conference matchup.
