January 2006

Taking Aim at the A-10

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Head into Conference Play

Over the semester break the Colonials men’s and women’s basketball teams wrapped up dominating non-conference schedules, leaving the teams on solid footings as they step into the heart of their spring conference seasons.

GW’s men’s team finished the bulk of its non-conference schedule with a near-perfect 10–1 record following a thrilling 79–73 overtime victory against Marshall University, Jan. 7. The Colonials were led by junior guard Danilo Pinnock, who scored 15 of his 21 points after halftime. The win left the team firmly entrenched among the nation’s top 20 teams —17th on the Associated Press poll and 19th on the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll for Jan. 9.

The team’s lone blemish came at the hands of North Carolina State University, 79–58, Dec. 30. Carl Elliott had 14 points for GW, and Pinnock, the team’s scoring leader, finished with 11, five points below his average. Junior Regis Koundjia, played in his first game of the season, eligible after transferring from LSU. The 6'8" forward from Bangui, Central African Republic, recorded nine points before fouling out in his debut.

GW showed patience and poise on the road Jan. 4 against Temple’s matchup zone, recording a double-digit victory, 72–60. Maureece Rice scored 14 points and Mike Hall had 12 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Colonials to victory in its Atlantic 10 Conference opener.

Women’s Team

The Colonials women’s team (9–4, 2–0) remained unbeaten in conference play with a 64–56 win at Saint Joseph’s, Jan. 8. GW had three players in double digits, led by sophomore guard Sarah-Jo Lawrence who finished with 17 points, while playing a game-high 39 minutes.

In its conference opener the team defeated Dayton 75–64, extending its 20–0 streak against the Flyers. Two Colonials recorded double-doubles (double digit figures in two statistical categories) as Jessica Simmonds had season highs with 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Kimberly Beck had 11 points and a career-high 12 assists.

GW completed its non-conference schedule with a 63–41 victory over Sacramento State, Jan. 3. The Colonials won by 21 points despite the game being tied at 19 at the half. The team scored its fewest first half points of the season and then exploded for 44 points early in the second half, led by 6'4" freshman forward Jessica Adair’s 11 second-half points.

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