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 Senior Jessica Adair scored a season-high 26 points, but it wasn't enough to lift GW past Rice in a 78-68 loss in Houston Monday night. |
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GW Comeback Falls Short in 78-68 Loss at Rice
Jan. 5, 2009
HOUSTON, TX - George Washington rallied in the second half behind senior center Jessica Adair's season-high 26 points, but Rice scored the final six points of the game to deal the Colonials their fifth road loss of the season, 78-68, at Tudor Fieldhouse Monday evening.
GW (7-7) whittled a 16-point halftime deficit to four, 72-68, with less than two minutes to play thanks to Jessica Adair's 17 second-half points. However, Rice's (5-8) Morgan Mayse hit a clutch three-pointer with 1:30 remaining and D'Frantz Smart, who led the Owls with 22 points, hit three free throws down the stretch to clinch the victory.
Jessica Adair's 26 points came on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor and 8-of-9 shooting from the line. Sophomore Erica Rivera (11 points) and senior Jazmine Adair (10) also reached double figures for GW, whose other four starters combined to shoot 10-of-34 from the field. Senior Yolanda Lavender added eight points, seven assists and five rebounds, while senior Antelia Parrish had seven points and 10 rebounds for the second straight game.
The Colonials had only nine players active for the game with several players out with illness, injury or personal reasons. The loss marks the first time GW has lost three consecutive games since a four-game skid in Dec. 2002.
GW couldn't contain Rice's diminutive point guard Smart nor hot-shooting off-guard Maudess Fulton, who combined for 23 first-half points en route to a 44-28 halftime lead. The Owls jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but seven consecutive points from Jessica Adair helped the Colonials climb back within two, 11-9, with 14:43 left in the period.
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Rice outscored GW 33-19 the rest of the half to lead by 16 at the break. The 44 first-half points allowed by GW were the most since surrendering 44 in a 63-60 loss at St. Bonaventure in Feb. 2008.
The Colonials slowly climbed back into the game, trimming their deficit to seven, 56-49, on senior Jazmine Adair's turn-around jumper in the lane with 11:36 to play. The Owls opened the lead back to 13 at 65-52 on a Tara Watts three at the 9:13 mark, but the Colonials set out on a 12-3 run - fueled by eight points from Jessica Adair - over the next five-and-a-half minutes to move within 68-64 with 3:43 remaining.
Jessica Adair twice answered scores from Rice to keep the margin at four until Mayse's rally-ending three-pointer sealed it for the hosts.
Fulton finished with 20 and Watts added 14 for Rice, which equaled GW's 32 points in the paint and snapped a two-game losing skid.
GW begins Atlantic 10 Conference play and ends a four-game road swing at Richmond Saturday at 7:00 pm.
