WASHINGTON – The George Washington women’s basketball team rallied from an eight-point deficit to take a 47-40 lead with seven minutes to play, but host American finished the game with a 17-7 run to win the District showdown, 57-54, on Saturday afternoon at Bender Arena.
Both teams struggled in the first half, each shooting just 29 percent from the floor. American (4-4) led most of the way and took a game-high eight-point lead, 25-17, with 1:06 to go in the period, but senior Megan Nipe’s layup with 28 seconds left made it 25-19 at the break.
GW (4-4) looked like a different team in the second half, connecting on 50 percent (15-of-30) of its attempts from the floor.
Trailing by seven, 31-24, after 1:56 of play, the Colonials scored six straight points in 88 seconds to pull within one, 31-30, and force an AU timeout. A layup by senior Danni Jackson gave GW its first lead since it was 4-2, and the teams traded baskets and the lead for three minutes until a jumper by Nipe at 9:44 sparked a 10-2 Colonials run that gave GW a 47-40 advantage with 7:02 remaining.
But a personal foul followed by a technical foul on graduate student Tara Booker on American’s next possession shifted the momentum back in the Eagles’ favor. Alexis Dobbs and Arron Zimmerman combined to make three of their four free throw attempts, igniting a 9-0 run that gave the hosts a 49-47 lead with less the five minutes to go.
Freshman Anjaleace White knotted the score at 49-49 following an AU turnover, and the teams alternated the lead on the next two possessions before Jen Dumiak drained a three-pointer with 1:21 remaining to give the Eagles the lead for good, 53-51.
A missed shot and a turnover on the Colonials’ next two possessions forced them to foul with 15 seconds left, and Dobbs hit both attempts to put the hosts up by four, 55-51. Nipe responded with an improbable three-pointer with seven seconds to go to pull GW within one, 55-54, and immediately committed the foul.
Dobbs again sank both foul shots for a 57-54 advantage, but the Colonials had one last chance to tie. Jackson got off a three-point attempt at the buzzer, but it rimmed out to give the Eagles the victory.
Nipe finished with a game-high 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, and she added seven rebounds. Jackson was the only other Colonial in double figures with 10 points along with four steals. White added eight points and four blocks, and senior Shi-Heria Shipptallied nine points and five boards.
Dumiak led the Eagles with 14 points and five assists, while Dobbs added 13 points. Michelle Holmes finished with eight points and a game-best nine rebounds off the bench.
GW shot 40.7 percent in the game and held American to 32.7 percent from the floor. The Eagles held a slight 36-35 edge on the glass.
The Colonials return to action on Wednesday, when they open a three-game homestand against Auburn at 7 p.m.
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