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 Cathy Joens was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for her two games versus Richmond and Xavier. |
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Women's Basketball Preview: GW at Rhode Island (2-20-04)
Feb. 19, 2004
Game at a Glance
Date: Friday, February 20, 2004
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Arena (Capacity): The Ryan Center (7,571)
Place: Kingston, RI
George Washington (Streak): 18-5, 11-1 (Won 10)
Road Record: 7-1
Last Game: Won 80-62 vs. Dayton, 2/15/04
Rhode Island (Streak): 14-10, 7-6 (Won 3)
Home Record: 9-2
Last Game: Won 50-48 vs. Fordham, 2/16/04
Series: GW leads 27-4
Last Meeting: GW won 56-49 in Washington, DC, 3/10/03
Broadcast: Internet Radio: www.gwradio.com with Sean Rose and Anthony Moniello
Coming Up: GW continues their road trip when they travel to Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday, February 22 to take on Duquesne.
Quick Notes
This evening's game between George Washington and Rhode Island is a rematch of the Atlantic 10 Tournament final from 2003, that saw the Colonials defeat a streaking Rams team 56-49. The Colonials are in the midst of a ten game winning streak, while Rhode Island has won four of its last five, including wins over Saint Joseph's and Temple.
One key stat to pay attention to throughout the contest will be who takes better care of the basketball. The teams are 1-2 in steals in the Atlantic 10, while GW is forcing opponents into 18.6 turnovers and Rhode Island is forcing over 23 turnovers a game. The team that can keep their hands on the ball will most likely control the action at the Ryan Center.
The Colonials will be playing the first of a three game road trip that includes the Rams, Duquesne and Massachusetts. Contrary to recent history, GW actually has a better road record (7-1) than home record (10-3), but they will have to increase their level of play if they want to extend their winning streak.
GW is coming off of a tougher weekend than many expected, that included a buzzer beater versus Xavier, and a pesky Dayton squad, but the Colonials battled to gain two victories. Cathy Joens became the all-time leader in made three-point field goals on Sunday, February 15 with two threes versus Dayton. Just two nights before, Ugo Oha moved into sole posession of first place on GW's all-time blocked shots list.
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Meanwhile, Rhode Island slid past Fordham, 50-48, on Monday, February 16, for their third win in a row. Shayla Johnson scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Rams, but it was Denise King who sealed the victory by hitting three out of four free throws in the final seconds.
Probable Starters
George Washington
Cathy Joens, G, 20.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.4 apg
Marsheik Witherspoon, G, 5.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.5 apg
Ugo Oha, C, 14.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.5 blocks
Anna Montaņana, F, 12.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 5.8 apg
Liz Dancause, F, 3.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 apg
Rhode Island
Katie Stailing, F, 10 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.7 apg
Tanya Rhodes, F, 12.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.6 apg
Chrys Washington, C, 5.1 ppg, 3 rpg, 0.7 apg
Shayla Johnson, G, 12 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2 apg
Denise King, G, 11.7 ppg, 3 rpg, 4.2 apg
Storylines
On The Road Again
The Colonials are 7-1 so far this season on the road, which is by far their best road record over the past few seasons. Over the past three seasons, GW is 22-16 away from Smith Center, which includes a 7-7 season in 2000-01. But this year, the Colonials have been dominant on their opponent's home courts, winning by almost 19 points a game. GW is shooting over 45 percent from the field, led by Cathy Joens, who is scoring 21 points per game. With three of their four remaining regular season games on the road, the Colonials hope to continue this trend.
Keep on Rollin'
The Colonials are currently on a ten game winning streak, the eighth longest in the country and are primed to continue that streak as they hit the road to take on Rhode Island and Duquesne. The streak began on January 12 with an 81-57 victory at Yale, which happened to be the 500th victory in the history of GW women's basketball. Over the ten games, the Colonials are shooting over 50 percent from the field, while holding the opposition to 37 percent shooting. GW has four players averaging in double figures with senior Valerie Williams joining the big three of Cathy Joens, Ugo Oha and Anna Montaņana.
Eight Is Enough
Senior Cathy Joens is going to be scattered throughout the GW women's basketball record books when she finishes her career after this season. Versus Richmond, she entered her name yet again, by making eight three-pointers, the most ever by a GW player in a single game. She was previously tied with assistant coach Lisa Cermignano and Myriah Lonergan at seven in one game, before knocking down the record breaker with 15:03 left in the second half, on the way to 31 points for the game.
What More Can You Say...Joens is Good at Basketball
Everyone knows that Cathy Joens is the premiere player in the Atlantic 10, and she continues to prove that as she winds down her career with the Colonials. The reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year is averaging 20.1 points, six rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game. She is one of only three players in the country averaging over 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, and she continues to get better. During GW's ten game winning streak, Joens is averaging almost 24 points, 6.4 rebounds and almost four assists, while shooting 52 percent from the field and an unbelievable 54 percent from behind the arc. The Colonails definitely have other players contributing, but Joens is the motor behind the machine that is George Washington basketball.
McKeown 41st to 400
Coach Joe McKeown has knocked down a few records in the past year, setting the bar for victories in conference with 195, making him the winningest coach in Atlantic 10 history. McKeown also passed former Rutgers head coach Theresa Grentz (293 victories) as the Atlantic 10's winningest coach in overall play (conference and non-conference) with 336 wins in his career at GW. Now, McKeown is the 41st coach in Division I women's college basketball to reach 400-career victories. Entering the 2003-04 season, the 17-year coach owned an overall record of 386-137. With the win over La Salle on January 31, coach McKeown carved out his own piece of history in college athletics.
