The Tribune

GRAND Bahamian Jonquel Jones scored 23 points and graduate student Lauren Chase had a season-high 21 to lead the George Washington women’s basketball team to a 78-70 victory over Villanova at the Charles E Smith Center on Sunday.

Chase made 7-of-10 shots from the field and added six assists against just one turnover. Jones grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds for her eighth straight double-double and added four assists, and junior Caira Washington also posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards as the Colonials dominated the glass.

The nation’s top rebounding team, GW won the battle of the boards for the 10th straight game to start the season, outrebounding Villanova, 46-29, including an 18-8 edge on the offensive end that yielded a 17-0 advantage on second-chance points.

Chase knocked down two 3-pointers on two attempts to lead the Colonials, who went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc in the game.

GW (7-3) overcame a five-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter with a dominant effort over the final 5:38 of play, including a 17-2 surge over a span of 3:22. The Colonials trailed 59-54 with 5:45 remaining before Chase ignited the run with back-to-back buckets.

Washington followed a Villanova field goal with consecutive baskets of her own, including the go-ahead layup with 3:24 left to make it 62-61.

From there, sophomore Brianna Cummings made a putback and-one to stretch the lead to 65-61, and Washington made it a six-point game 21 seconds later. The Colonials closed it out with free throws, making 8-of-10 over the final 2:35, with Jones knocking down four in a row to give GW a 10-point cushion.

The first half included five ties and 10 lead changes as neither team led by more than five points. A layup by Chase just before the buzzer gave the Colonials a 19-16 advantage after one quarter of play, and GW held a 36-31 advantage at the break. Villanova (5-4) shot 57.1 per cent (8-for-14) and outscored GW, 23-15, in the third frame, including 8-1 over the final 2:21 to take a 54-51 lead - its first since it was 16-14 late in the first quarter - but the Colonials made 7-of-12 shots (7-of-12) in a 27-16 fourth period to seal the win.

Caroline Coyer and Jordan Dillard each scored 16 points to pace the Wildcats, while Adrianna Hahn added 15 points off the bench.

The Colonials now have a week off for final exams before hosting Iona at noon on December 20.