George Washington University

Feb. 18, 2009

Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington broke open a close game with a 20-3 run midway through the second half and rolled to an 83-62 victory over Massachusetts at Charles E. Smith Center Wednesday evening. Senior Yolanda Lavender hit five 3-pointers en route to a season-high 19 points and freshman Tara Booker added 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to record her first career double-double.

GW (16-10, 8-3 A-10) is now in a three-way tie for third place, along with St. Bonaventure and Temple, in the Atlantic 10 standings entering its final three games of the regular season. The Colonials host the Bonnies Saturday at 2:00 pm in their annual WBCA Pink Zone promotion. Fans are encouraged to join GW players, coaches and staff in wearing pink in support of breast cancer research and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Senior Jessica Adair shot 8-of-10 from the floor to finish with 17 points, 13 of which came during a second-half rout in which GW shot 61 percent (19-of-31) and outscored UMass 50-30. Reigning A-10 Rookie of the Week Tiana Myers also chipped in 13 points and was the game's second-leading rebounder with six boards.

GW led by a point, 33-32, at halftime and 45-44 with 12:55 remaining, but Myers jumpstarted a 12-0 spurt with a three-point play and a three-pointer to put the Colonials' lead in double-digits the rest of the night.

The 20-3 run was capped by one of Lavender's career-high-tying five triples and gave GW a 65-47 lead with 6:10 to play. The margin swelled to its largest at 23 points, 83-60, on Myers' second three-pointer of the game with 38 seconds left. The Colonials finished with 10 threes, their second-most of the season.

Jessica Adair (13), Lavender (13), Myers (9) and Booker (7) combined for 42 of GW's 50 second-half points.

GW held a 42-33 edge in rebounding, matched a season-high with 22 assists and committed 12 turnovers, its second-fewest this season. The Colonials also held a 17-8 advantage in points off turnovers and 20-8 edge in second-chance points.

The teams' traded the lead five times in the first half, the last on Booker's trio of free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt with eight seconds left to give GW a 33-32 advantage at the break.

UMass used nine straight points and a 15-5 run to lead 32-28 with less than two minutes left in the first half, but back-to-back jumpers from junior Stefani Munro and Booker's free throws put GW back in front, 33-32. The Colonials improved to 14-0 this season when leading at halftime.