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 Senior Anna Montañana was honored before the game with a ball to commemorate her 1,000th point which she scored versus Massachusetts on Jan. 9. |
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Colonials Hold On for 64-61 Victory Versus Rhode Island
Jan. 29, 2005
WASHINGTON, DC - Rhode Island gave GW (13-6, 6-2 Atlantic 10) all it could handle in a game that featured 14 lead changes and 11 ties, but the Colonials held on for a 64-61 triumph on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Smith Center. The Colonials didn't score a field goal in the last 5:55 of the game, but connected on 9-of-12 free throws in the final four minutes to preserve the victory.
The win extended GW's home-court winning streak to 16 games, the eighth-longest active streak in Division I women's basketball and the third-longest in team history.
A pair of free throws by senior All-America candidate Anna Montañana gave the Colonials a 57-52 edge with 3:37 left in regulation. GW matched its largest advantage of the second half, six points, on two more Montañana free throws to make the count 61-55 with 47 seconds remaining. The Rams (5-15, 3-6 Atlantic 10) got a layup from Tanya Rhodes on their ensuring possession and freshman Sarah-Jo Lawrence hit one of two foul shots to make it a five-point contest, 62-57. On Rhode Island's next possession Rhodes stole the ball from Montañana and was fouled taking a jumper by freshman Kimberly Beck with 18 seconds on the clock. Rhodes drained both free throws to make it a one-possession game, 62-59. The Rams' Katie Stailing fouled GW sophomore Kenan Cole to stop the clock at the 16-second mark. Cole made both free throws to increase the Colonials' advantage to 64-59. Rhode Island's Safi Mojidi converted a layup on the Rams' next possession and then stole the ball from Beck to give Rhode Island a chance to tie the game, but Rhodes missed a layup and Montañana grabbed the rebound as time expired.
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Beck led the way for GW with 16 points, one short of her career high. Eleven of her 12 field-goal attempts came from beyond the three-point arc and she set a personal best with four treys on the night. Beck also dished out six assists and had five steals. Montañana, who was presented with a ball to commemorate her 1,000th career point prior to game, finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and thee assists. Montañana is now tied with assistant coach Lisa Cermignano for fifth on GW's career assists ledger with 399. Senior Jessica Simmonds also scored in double figures for the Colonials, tallying 14 points and 12 rebounds to notch her fifth double-double of the year.
GW trailed early on as the Rams took a 17-15 lead on a jumper by Rhodes at the 7:56 mark of the first half. With score knotted at 20, Rhode Island registered 10 of the game's next 14 points to grab a 30-24 advantage with 1:42 remaining in the opening stanza. A three by Beck and a free throw by sophomore Whitney Allen made the score 30-28 at the half. The Rams pushed their lead to five in the opening minutes of the second half, but GW went on a 12-6 scoring burst to take a 40-39 edge at the 14:59 mark and the Colonials only trailed once more the rest of the way.
Rhodes finished with 15 points and a team-best nine boards for Rhode Island. Peta Keen led the Rams with 18 points and Safi Mojidi contributed 13 points and five assists.
The two teams attempted a combined 53 free throws in the contest. GW was 18-for-26 (.692) and Rhode Island made 21-of-27 (.778). GW forced 27 turnovers which led to 17 points, and it attempted a season-high 24 three-pointers, making six (.250). For the game, the Colonials were 20-of-64 (.313) from the floor, while the Rams were 17-of-50 (.340).
The Colonials return to the hardwood on Friday, Feb. 4 at La Salle. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
