This post was written by Hatchet Senior Staff Writer Alex Kist.
On the brink of 2016, GW may have fulfilled some of its New Year’s resolutions early.
The Colonials went out with a bang, closing out their 2015 season with a 30-point rout of Hartford in their final non-conference match. Along with consistent, physical inside defense, GW had a few firsts in the Wednesday night matchup.
Novelties came from both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, as the Colonials amassed a season-high 30 offensive rebounds. Junior forward Caira Washington got good looks down low and finished with a game-high 19 points and notched nine rebounds.
Graduate student guard Lauren Chase posted a career-high 12 assists against only one turnover. Chase’s confidence on the court has allowed her to be a selfless leader and has helped her to stand out in her final season as a Colonial.
“I would love that ratio every single game,” head coach Jonathan Tsipis said. “She really put our kids in unbelievable positions to be successful. I’m so excited for her because she is sacrificing some points on her own end to make sure we are getting everybody a ball, that part of knowing that you give up a good shot for a great shot.”
Junior guard Hannah Schaible followed suit with 12 points and five rebounds, and freshman guard Mei-Lyn Bautista and sophomore forward Kelli Prange ignited second-half spark, notching nine points apiece against the Hawks. Tsipis said that depth on the roster is key as the Colonials move into all-conference play.
GW (10-3) soared to a 82–51 victory against Hartford (4-8), characterized by ball control inside the paint, solid shot selection and balanced bench contributions.
After a slow first quarter with GW scraping by with a 22–21 advantage, the Colonials bounced back in the second and exploded offensively. GW jumped out to a 10-point advantage after going on an 11-2 run culminating with an impressive three-point shot from Bautista. Bautista knocked down three shots from beyond the arc on the night. The Colonials closed out the first half by a 46–30 margin.
Fresh out of the locker rooms, GW elevated its defensive pressure and held Hartford to six points in the third quarter. The Colonials were off to a quick start, led by senior forward Jonquel Jones who shot a seamless left wing jumper to open play. GW continued to run the floor for the remainder of the frame and took a wide 52–30 lead rallying off a 6-0 run. Prange rolled of her own screen for a three pointer right before the buzzer to extend the lead to 62–36.
GW gave up only 13 turnovers against Hartford, showing improvement from its 19.5 turnovers per game average. Chase said that minimizing possession loss has been a main focus at practice.
“We work on it pretty much every day, as our primary focus is limiting turnovers,” Chase said. “Making easy plays, being smart with the ball is something that we’ve keyed on every single game. We have been working on trying to play fast but under control.”
The Colonials were persistent in the paint and posted 20 second-chance points to the Hawks’ three. With Chase dishing out good passes underneath, the Colonials had better shot options and had 20 more field goal attempts than the competition.
GW continued to be the aggressor in the fourth quarter and remained physical inside, as senior guard Alexis Chandler got a lay in and one to boost the lead to 67–43. Prange showed composure from the charity stripe to knock down two free throws, and the Colonials showed off their perimeter play in the final minute in regulation. Sophomore guard Camila Tapias and senior guard Aaliyah Brown each posted a wing three to eclipse the Hawks in the 31-point decision.
As the team enters Atlantic 10 play on Sunday, Tsipis said that “taking care of the basketball,” will be a top priority.
“I think we are taking good shots, but we need to make sure that we get more shots and not turn the ball over,” Tsipis said. “Defensively, we need to be able to continue to change defenses more effectively, to keep them off balance and take things away. I think there is definitely room for growth.”
The Colonials return to action on Sunday to take on Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia at 3 p.m.
