Jan. 24, 2010

Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC - For the third time this season, Nadia Duncan came off the bench to score in double figures, this time leading La Salle Women's Basketball with 15 points and six rebounds. However George Washington got a career-high 21 points from Kay-Kay Allums and registered the 58-50 victory on Sunday afternoon in Atlantic 10 Conference action at the Charles E. Smith Center.

Duncan, who also had two steals, was one of three Explorers in double figures, as both Ashley Gale (11 points, four boards, three steals) and Jamie Walsh (10 points, two assists) did as well. Danielle Callahan led La Salle with four assists, while Tara Lapetina had a career-high five steals.

Despite that fact that all 10 Explorers who played in the game had at least one rebound, George Washington outboarded La Salle 39-28 and pulled down 16 offensive rebounds that led to 12 second-chance points - but all in the first half.

Another key to the Colonials victory was three-point shooting. George Washington averaged just 3.8 makes per game on 25.8% shooting, they made 8-of-13 (61.5%). Meanwhile, La Salle made just four of its 16 three-point shots and was 0-for-8 in the first half.

La Salle (5-15, 0-5 A-10) opened the scoring in the contest on a Gale lay-up, but the common theme on the afternoon was once GW was down or the game was tied - as it was four times - the Colonials would score five straight.

So, GW quickly took a 5-2 advantage in the next minute of play and would keep that advantage until Duncan scored on a lay-up to knot the game at 14s at the 9:57 mark.

Sara Mostafa, who scored 11 points and added 16 rebounds, put the Colonials up two and Janine Davis hit a three to make it 19-14 a minute later.

The Explorers battled back and with 3:28 left before intermission, Gale scored on a long jumper to tie the score again at 23s, but GW closed the half on an 8-2 run which included a pair of Allums threes to give her team a six-point edge at the break.

Just one minute into the second, Allums answered a Morgan Robertson basket with another three - she was 4-for-4 in the game from behind the arc - to give the Colonials their largest lead - to that point - of seven.

It was still seven (38-31) before Walsh hit La Salle's first three of the game. Chelsea Conner would follow with three, Walsh hit another three, and when Lapetina connected on one with 8:35 left in the game, the Explorers were down 45-43.

Duncan would score on La Salle's next possession to tie the score at 45 and after a Tiana Myers lay-up; she tied it again at 47s on her on lay-up with 5:13 to play.   

George Washington (4-14, 1-4 A-10) scored five straight - a Myers basket, she scored nine and added eight rebounds, and an Allums three with 2:40 left - to make it 52-47.

The lead was four with under a minute to go and it appeared La Salle made it one after a Walsh made three, but the Explorers were called for an offensive foul and the Colonials went 6-for-8 from the line to seal their win.

The Explorers return to the court on Wednesday when they host Saint Joseph's at Tom Gola Arena with a 7 PM tip.