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 Sophomore Erica Rivera hit the game-winning free throws and grabbed the game's final rebound to lift GW to a 63-61 victory over Troy Tuesday night. |
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GW Takes Down Troy With Rivera's Late Free Throws, 63-61
Dec. 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - Sophomore Erica Rivera and senior Jazmine Adair hit four straight free throws in the final minute to help George Washington post a 63-61 come-from-behind victory over Troy at Charles E. Smith Center Tuesday night.
GW (5-3) avoided the upset by scoring six points in the final 55 seconds after letting a lead it held since the 18:26 mark of the first half slip away with just over two minutes to play.
Troy (3-5) used a 9-2 run, capped by Sarah McAppion's short-corner jumper, to grab a 59-57 advantage with 2:12 remaining. The teams' traded missed three-pointers, but senior Jessica Adair scored on a put-back with 55 seconds left to tie the game at 59-59.
Adair was whistled for a foul on Kylie Morrissy's pull-up attempt with 46 seconds to play and the Trojans' leading scorer converted both foul shots to move back in front 61-59.
Jessica Adair missed inside on GW's next possession, but twin sister Jazmine was fouled after grabbing the rebound and sank both free throws to draw even, 61-61, with 36 seconds remaining.
GW applied a full-court press and eventually pressured Troy into an over-and-back violation, forcing the visitors to call timeout with 14 seconds left. The Trojans chose to foul Rivera on the inbounds and again called timeout. Rivera calmly hit both shots, then fought through traffic for the rebound on Morrissy's last-second jumper to secure the victory for the Colonials.
Freshman Tara Booker posted a career night with 18 points, four 3-pointers and nine rebounds. Jessica Adair chipped in 15 points and nine boards off the bench, while starters Jazmine Adair and Ivy Abiona combined for 19 points and 14 rebounds. Abiona also set a career mark with four blocked shots and junior Stefani Munro dished out a career-best six assists.
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The Colonials played without leading scorer and rebounder Antelia Parrish, who was held out for violating a team rule, and senior Lisa Steele, who had started the previous three games.
Morrissy led Troy in scoring for the third straight game with 20 points, followed by 12 from McAppion and 11 from Alyce Shearing.
GW opened with little signs of rust following a 14-day break since its last game, hitting seven of its first 10 shots to jump out to a 22-8 lead 7:36 into the game.
However, the rust returned the remainder of the game, as the Colonials went just 13-of-42 (30.9 percent) from the field and had 19 turnovers the final 32 minutes. Troy closed the first half on a 17-8 run to trail 35-29 at the break.
GW hosts a Top 10 ranked program for the second time in its last three games this Friday, Dec. 19, when No. 10/10 Auburn visits Smith Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
