George Washington University

Jan. 21, 2010

Box Score

VILLANOVA, PA - The George Washington women's basketball team trailed by one, 21-20, at halftime, but Villanova hit 14-of-26 shots while the Colonials struggled with 24 percent shooting in the second half en route to a 55-44 loss in both teams' non-conference finale at the Pavilion Thursday night.

The loss was GW's (3-14) sixth straight and 10th in 13 non-conference games this season.

Villanova's (11-6) Maria Getty led all scorers with 26 points, including 14 in the second half, to help the hosts snap a four-game losing skid.

Sophomore Tiana Myers scored 13 points to pace GW, followed by a career-high 10 points from redshirt freshman Brooke Wilson and nine points from sophomore Sara Mostafa. That trio shot a combined 12-of-33 from the field, while the Colonials' other four active players totaled 12 points on 4-of-21 shooting. GW dressed just seven players as freshman Shi-Heria Shipp missed her second straight game with an ankle injury.

Getty, who finished 9-of-17 from the floor and 6-of-11 from deep, hit four three pointers during a 23-11 run to begin the second half as `Nova grabbed a 44-31 lead with 9:07 to play. The Wildcats hit 9-of-15 shots during the spurt, while the Colonials converted 4-of-15 over the span.

Mostafa hit a turnaround jumper and Wilson knocked down a three pointer to pull within eight, 44-36, but that was as close as the Colonials would get. The Wildcats used a 9-3 run, sparked by a layup and triple from Sarah Jones, to push to their largest lead, 53-39, with 3:46 remaining.

Villanova finished 42.3 percent from the field on the strength of its 14-of-26 shooting effort (53.8 percent) in the second half. GW shot below 30 percent for the third time this season, finishing 16-of-54 (29.6 percent) from the floor.

The Colonials enjoyed their largest rebounding edge of the season, 39-29, but managed just nine second-chance points. The Wildcats turned 15 turnovers into 18 points, scored 20 points in the paint and added 27 points on 9-of-25 three-point shooting.

Mostafa scored three baskets and assisted another as GW jumped out to an early 8-2 lead. The Wildcats answered with their own 8-2 run to even it at 10-10 and the teams' traded the lead five times the remainder of the half. Myers' 50-foot heave at the halftime buzzer missed off the back iron and the Wildcats led 21-20 at the break.

The Colonials return to Atlantic 10 play Sunday at Charles E. Smith Center against La Salle at 1:00 pm.