George Washington University

March 19, 2009

Box Score

FORT MYERS, FL - The George Washington women's basketball team made baskets in the final seconds to force overtime and a second extra session, but Florida Gulf Coast used 10 three-pointers through the second half and overtime periods to pull away for a 97-94 double-overtime victory over the Colonials in the first round of the Postseason WNIT at Alico Arena Thursday night.

Senior Yolanda Lavender approached a triple-double with a season-high 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and senior Jessica Adair added 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting in just 21 minutes. Redshirt sophomore Ivy Abiona posted a career-best 14 points and 12 boards, followed by a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double from freshman Tara Booker.

GW finishes its season at 17-14 after qualifying for its 10th consecutive postseason appearance and 18th postseason in the past 19 years.

Trailing 75-71 with 16.6 seconds left in regulation, Lavender scored inside and the Colonials immediately fouled Shannon Murphy with 11 seconds to play. Murphy hit both ends to put FGCU up 77-73, but Lavender drove the length of the floor and hit a layup with 3.3 seconds left to make it 77-75. The Eagles tried to inbound the ball quickly, but were whistled for an endline violation and freshman Tiana Myers found senior Antelia Parrish open on the left block for a layup to tie the game at 77-77 and force overtime.

Kelsey Jacobson hit her fifth three-pointer to give FGCU an 83-80 lead with 1:11 to go in overtime, but GW again battled back. Jessica Adair scored in the lane to close within a point and senior Jazmine Adair blocked a shot on the defensive end to put the Colonials in position to take the lead. Abiona rebounded sophomore Erica Rivera's baseline jumper, but missed the ensuing putback and Jacobson was fouled with nine seconds.

After Jacobson missed the second free throw, Lavender again drove the length of the court and converted a layup with 2.2 seconds to play and force a second overtime tied at 84-84.

Brittany Brown, who led FGCU with 25 points, opened the second extra session with a three-point play, but Lavender answered with her own three-pointer to tie the game at 87-87 with 4:21 left.

GW fell behind 95-91 following a Murphy three-pointer and four free throws, but Lavender brought the Colonials within a point, 95-94, on her fourth three-pointer of the game with three seconds to play. Brown made two foul shots and Rivera's three-quarter court heave missed the backboard.

The Colonials were riddled with foul trouble throughout the game, losing Parrish, Booker, Myers and Jazmine Adair to disqualification, while three other players finished with four fouls. FGCU capitalized with 24 free throws on 41 attempts, knocked down 13 total three-pointers and assisted 25-of-30 field goals.

GW shot 38-of-84 from the field (45.2 percent) and held a commanding 60-39 rebounding advantage against the much smaller Eagles.