The Tribune

GRAND Bahamian Jonquel Jones had another big game as the George Washington women’s basketball team produced its best defensive effort in four years and reached the 20-win mark for the second straight season with a 52-35 victory over Atlantic 10 newcomer Davidson.

The win came yesterday afternoon in front of a raucous crowd of 2,120 made up of local students who took part in Field Trip Day.

Davidson’s 35 points were the fewest GW has allowed since a 53-35 victory over Rhode Island on February 2, 2011. The Colonials limited the Wildcats to 26.3 per cent (15-57) shooting in the game, including 19.4 per cent (6-31) in a second half in which the visitors scored just 12 points.

GW remains perfect in A-10 play at 9-0 and continues to keep pace with the 2006-07 Colonials for the best 22-game record in programme history at 20-2. GW reaches 20 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006-07 and 2007-08 and for the 19th time overall.

The Colonials’ 18-game winning streak, which dates to November 24, is the third-longest ever by GW squad and is the fifth-longest active streak in Division I.

Jones, the Junior Naismith Trophy candidate, posted her 13th double-double of the season and her eighth in nine A-10 games with 12 points and 13 rebounds, and she matched her career high with four assists.

Sophomore Shannon Cranshaw equalled her career best with four three-pointers in six attempts for 12 points, and sophomore Hannah Schaible tallied 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with four steals.

Davidson (5-18, 1-9 A-10) kept it close for much of the first half, trailing by no more than five points until a 6-0 GW run gave the Colonials a 25-17 lead with three minutes to play. The Wildcats countered with back-to-back three-pointers by Hannah Early and Lilian McCabe to pull back within two, but GW closed the half with six straight points for a 31-23 advantage at the break.

The Colonials extended their run to 15-0 with the first nine points of the second period to take a 40-23 lead after 2:28 of action before Mackenzie Latt got Davidson on the board for the first time in the half at the 15:35 mark. The Wildcats cut it to 13 points, but a pair of Cranshaw threes ignited a 10-2 spurt that gave GW a game-high 21-point lead (52-31).

GW won the rebounding battle for the 20th time in 22 games this season with a 47-40 margin and held a 25-8 advantage on points off turnovers after forcing 21 Davidson miscues. The Colonials also dished out 17 assists on 22 made field goals with a game-high six from senior Chakecia Miller, who moved into 13th place all-time at GW with 344 helpers in her career.

Alex Long led the Wildcats with 11 points. Early and Latt each recorded a team-best nine rebounds, but Davidson’s two leading scorers were limited to 11 points on 5-of-26 shooting.

The Colonials return to action on Sunday afternoon when they host Atlantic 10 rival Dayton at noon in a rematch of the A-10 opener on January 4, a 69-66 victory for visiting GW. The Flyers (16-4, 7-1 A-10) have not lost since that contest and they visit George Mason tonight. Sunday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.