George Washington University

Feb. 2, 2011

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WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington women's basketball team posted its best defensive effort of the season, limiting Rhode Island to 25 percent shooting, to earn its first Atlantic 10 Conference victory of the season, 53-35, at Charles E. Smith Center Wednesday night.

The 35 points were the fewest allowed this season by the Colonials, who snapped a program-worst 11-game losing skid with the win and remained unbeaten at home against the Rams in 20 all-time meetings.

Junior Tiana Myers reached double figures for the fifth straight game with 13 points and added six rebounds and four assists to lead GW (6-15, 1-6 A-10). Sophomore Danni Jackson also pitched in 13 along with a game-high five assists and three steals, junior Tara Booker netted 11, and senior Ivy Abiona finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

Rhode Island's (6-15, 0-7 A-10) Megan Shoniker, the A-10's fourth leading scorer at 19.4 points per game, led all players with 15 points, but made just 4-of-21 field goals, including 2-of-12 three-point attempts. No other Rams player reached double digits as the visitors shot 4-of-21 (19%) in the second half and 13-of-52 (25%) for the game.

The Colonials came out blazing from beyond the arc, sinking five 3-pointers in the opening 9:09 of the game to build a 19-9 advantage. Myers made all of her three 3-pointers in that span and scored 11 of her 13 in the first half to spark GW.

The Rams closed to 21-15 on an Anisha Wilson layup with 5:56 left in the period, but that's as close as they would get the rest of the night. Booker answered with the team's sixth 3-pointer of the first half 48 seconds later and Jackson scored at the buzzer to cap an 11-5 run that gave GW a 32-20 lead at the break.

Jackson scored nine seconds into the second half for a 14-point advantage and GW's lead never dipped below 13. Jackson twice gave the Colonials a 20-point cushion with less than nine minutes to play and the lead peaked at 53-31 with 4:45 left following three free throws from Booker.

GW shot better than 40 percent (40.4%) for the fifth time this season and recorded a season-high 10 steals, which it turned into 12 points.

The 35 points surrendered were the fewest since an identical 53-35 victory over Loyola (MD) at Smith Center in December 2008.

The GW Athletics Department celebrated the 25th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day with a Girls and Women in Sports Night event at Wednesday's game. Renowned journalist, author and professional speaker Mariah Burton Nelson spoke to a crowd of GW athletics coaches, staff, administrators and guests prior to the game, and the Northern Virginia Women's Basketball League 50-and-over teams competed at halftime.

GW seeks its second conference win of the season Saturday at Saint Louis (7-15, 1-6 A-10). Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.