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| GW defense stifles St. Louis in first half |
The George Washington Lady Colonials wrapped up their regular season in playoff form, holding on for a 68-55 win over the St. Louis Billikens in front of an appreciative crowd of 785 at Charles E. Smith Center. Before advancing to a first round battle vs. Richmond on Friday, GW bid ado to graduate students Tara Booker, Sara Mostafa and Brooke Wilson in a pre-game Senior Day celebration.
Senior Megan Nipe scored a career-high 20 points, including 16 (on 7-7 shooting) in a dominating first half that ended with the home team on top 42-23. GW (13-15, 7-7) held St. Louis (11-18, 5-9) to 23% shooting from the field in the first half and 36.8% for the game. Senior point guard Danni Jackson added 17 points (10 in the first half, including a clutch 3-pointer with no time left before halftime.)
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| Megan Nipe (22) rarin' to go |
GW extended their lead to 23 early in the second half, before the Billikens scored 13 straight points to cut it to 10 with 14:29 remaining in the game. Jackson and Mostafa (13 total) each scored seven points in the second half to preserve the win for the Colonials. Shi-Heria Shipp (10 points, nine rebounds) just missed her second double-double of the year, and GW hit an impressive 70% from the free throw line (including all 5 of their attempts in the first half.) Perhaps the girls could teach the boys a thing or two about shooting from the charity stripe.
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| GW's Alexis Chandler challenges a Jacy Bradley jumper |
The Lady Colonials won their fourth straight at home, but must head on the road to Philadelphia for this weekend's A-10 tournament. Today's win secured the 8th seed; but given their 13-15 record, they'll need to advance to (and win) the conference title game on March 16th at Brooklyn's Barclays Center if they want to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since their Sweet 16 run back in 2008.
Click here for today's box score.
