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GW at the Puerto Rico Shootout
GW WBB travels to the sunny Caribbean for the 2023 Puerto Rico Shootout. The Revolutionaries will play three games beginning November 23 at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over three consecutive days, they will face the West Virginia (WVU) Mountaineers, Southern Illinois (SIU) Salukis, and UNC-Charlotte 49ers.
In today’s women’s Massey Ratings, West Virginia ranks no. 35 in Division I. Charlotte comes in at a respectable no. 119, and the Saluki’s bring up the rear at no. 253. After the recent loss to UMES, GW dropped to no. 173.
All games at the shootout will be live-streamed on the FloHoops platform.
Opponent Summaries:
West Virginia Mountaineers hail from the Big 12 Conference and represent GW’s only Power 5 opponent in the OOC schedule. Last year, the Mountaineers finished 5th in the Big 12 with a 10-8 conference record and 19-11 overall. In the conference preseason projection, WVU was picked for an 8th place finish this year. Their 3-0 OOC record so far includes a 71-62 road win at Pitt. The Mountaineers are led by guard JJ Quinnerly, a preseason 1st Team All-Big 12 selection. She comes into the game averaging 17 ppg. Three other starters also average double figures in scoring, led by Lauren Field’s 16.7 ppg. As a team, WVU averages 79.7 ppg, while shooting 48.4% from the field this year, and a robust 45.2% from distance.
Tipoff time is November 23 at 12:30 PM (ET).
Southern Illinois Salukis are members of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). Last year, the Salukis finished 7th in the MVC with a 7-12 conference record and 12-19 overall. They are projected for an 8th place finish in the 2023-2024 season. SIU enters the shootout with a 1-3 record that includes a victory over Southwest Missouri State and 3-point loss to Cornell. Senior guard Shemera Williams leads the way for SIU, bringing a 19 ppg average into the shootout. Laniah Randle (11.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg) is one of four others who are averaging double figures in scoring. The Salukis shoot 42.9% as a team and 32% from beyond the arc. They score 74.8 ppg.
Tipoff time is November 24 at 12:30 PM (ET).
Charlotte (UNCC) is in its first year in the American Conference. Last year, in Conference USA, the 49ers finished in 9th place with a 7-13 conference record and 12-19 overall. They were projected to finish 10th this year in their inaugural American Conference season. They come into the Shootout at 3-1, with their only loss coming against nationally ranked NC State. They handily defeated Tennessee State, UNC-Ashville, and Gardner-Webb. Their best player is Dazia Lawrence, who was a preseason All-American Conference 2nd Team selection. She comes into the shootout averaging 16 ppg, followed by Tracy Hueston, who comes in at 12.3 ppg. As a team, they are shooting at a 40.1% clip, and 31.7%, while putting up 71.8 ppg.
Tipoff time is November 25 at 12:30 PM (ET).
GW Outlook:
The Revolutionaries come into the game at 3-1, following a loss to UMES. Nya Robertson leads the team (17.3 ppg), followed by Essence Brown (11.3 ppg) and Nya Lok (10.8 ppg). However, the offense has at times been erratic and sloppy in execution, resulting in scoring droughts and poor transition into defense. As a result, GW shoots only 36.6% from the field and 28% from beyond the 3-point line. Their 61.8 ppg coming into the shootout is considerably lower than any of the other opponents. In order for GW to compete in these contests, the Revs must find a way to slow down the opponents’ offenses, while finding ways to manufacture easy points for themselves. The bench also has to step up and provide some consistent scoring to take some of the pressure off of the starters. If GW is not at full strength, especially if Brown can’t play, GW’s challenges will be that much greater.
Last edited by xAC (11/23/2023 8:04 am)
- xAC
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Re: GW at the Puerto Rico Shootout
Day 1 Results:
West Virginia escapes with a 54-51 win over GW.
GW’s Brown was not in the line-up and Innis started. GW’s defense started strong, but the offense was stymied by the Mountaineer press early on. The defense stood strong and GW weathered a slow offensive start to trail by only 12-10 at the end of the 1st quarter. The press continued to bother the Revs in the 2nd quarter, particularly for our backcourt, and numerous turnovers gave the Mountaineers some easy points. GW got in foul trouble Lok (3), Buford (3), Durant (2) and Robertson (2). Both Durant and Robertson (2 fouls each) sat out most of the 1st half. Still, the defense was solid and GW trailed by only 25-20 at halftime. In the 3rd, more pressing led to more easy baskets for WVU, but a 7-0 GW run to close the quarter kept the game close (40-37). Blethen went down with what looked like a serious ankle injury. In the final quarter, GW fought back hard and took over the lead with 5 minutes to go, but it wasn’t enough and WVU took the 54-51 win.
This was GW’s best defensive effort in quite a while. They held the Mountaineers, who came in averaging 80 ppg, to just 54 points on 30.6% shooting. The determining factor was GW’s 25 turnovers, which resulted in a 23-6 advantage in points off turnovers for WVU. Taiwo finished with a 11-10 double-double and there were good moments from Buford, Innis, and Webster that kept this game close. Quinnerly led all scorers with 24 points.
In the opener, the Salukis defeated Charlotte 55-52 in a mild upset. Southern Illinois, tomorrow’s opponent for GW, held the 49ers to just 21 second-half points after trailing by 10 at halftime. Laniah Randle led the Salukis with 22 points. Dazia Lawrence had a big game for Charlotte, finishing with 32 points on 9-14 shooting.
Last edited by xAC (11/23/2023 3:22 pm)
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Thread Starter- xAC
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Re: GW at the Puerto Rico Shootout
Day 2 Results:
The Salukis take down GW 66-55.
In a mild surprise, Lewis started the game with Durant, Taiwo, Innis, and Robertson. Taiwo picked up two early fouls and GW substituted freely from that point. SIU took the 1st quarter lead 16-10, as shots were not dropping for the Revs. In the second quarter, the many substitutions led to frequent defensive miscues that allowed the Salukis to build up a big 41-28 lead. Roberston had 13 points or things could have been worse. GW finally found some offensive rhythm to start the 3rd, but SIU continued to shoot lights out, and without getting stops, GW could only reduce the lead by 2 points and trailed 54-43 after the 3rd quarter. GW suffered from numerous errors on offense to start the 4th and could never recover, going on to lose the game 66-55.
It was good to see Robertson (23 points) have several offensive spurts, which offset some of her hurried attempts. GW had trouble defensively on the inside most of the game, allowing Randle and Hughes (38 points combined) to get many easy scores in the box. The GW substituted liberally and some of the younger players, especially Lewis and Sims, are getting some meaningful minutes. Buford played very sparingly, and Marsh didn’t get in the game. Durant has started to assert herself offensively, and had some tough scores inside. With Blethen out, the defense really suffered at times, and because of 4 fouls,Taiwo only played 16 minutes, further hindering our defense. Right now, GW seems to be beset with injuries and trying to make the best with the players who are able to perform.
In the opener, West Virginia romped past Charlotte 84-56, despite an off day for Quinnerly, who fouled out with just 2 points. Charlotte was led by Hueston with 12 points and 5 rebounds. GW will take on Charlotte tomorrow in hopes of salvaging something out of the holiday tournament.
Last edited by xAC (11/24/2023 2:36 pm)
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Thread Starter- gwstudent2024
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Re: GW at the Puerto Rico Shootout
Offense just not good enough. Disappointing they haven't figured out how to use Durant and Taiwo together offensively
- xAC
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Re: GW at the Puerto Rico Shootout
Day 3 Results:
A depleted GW squad struggles in a 50-38 loss to the Charlotte 49ers.
Another horrible start out of the gates for GW forced an early timeout. The 49ers raced to a 10-2 lead after GW went just 1-5 shooting and committed 4 TOs. As the offensive struggles continued, the Revs finished 3-15 shooting and trailed after the 1st period 16-7. GW tried many different combinations in the 2nd quarter and played much of it with Marsh, Lewis, and Sims in the backcourt. With Robertson sitting out the period with 2 fouls and Lok going out with an injury, the Revs had no offensive threats on the court and could only muster 9 points in the period. Fortunately, Charlotte was equally ineffective and could not extend their lead, going into the half ahead 25-16. For GW, who shot 24% for the half, seven different players had 1 field goal, with Marsh and Buford getting 3-pointers. Bad shot selection by GW led to easy 49er baskets early in the 3rd, and Charlotte raced out to a 15-point lead, forcing GW to call an early timeout. After some really ragged back and forth for the rest of the quarter, Charlotte held on to their lead (41-26). In the 4th quarter, GW missed their first 7 shots and was scoreless until Engel canned her first 3-pointer of the season. From that point on, GW’s bench actually beat Charlotte’s first team, reducing the lead and ending the game with a 50-38 loss.
The Puerto Rico Shootout was not friendly to GW, and they finished 0-3, returning to DC with a losing record on the year. Blethen was injured in the first game and did not return in the tournament, and Lok did not return to the court today after getting hurt in the first half. Although the defense held Charlotte to just 50 points, the offense simply missed too many layups and open 3-pointers, finishing the game 16-57 from the field and only 3-20 from distance. Whether a coaching decision or due to necessity, the bench players got a lot of minutes, and their inexperience contributed to numerous missed scoring opportunities and offensive miscues. The only bright side to the trip (besides the SUN) was GW's younger players getting some extensive game experience. The coaching staff has its work cut out when the team returns to DC, and with the status of Brown, Blethen, and Lok in question, the next game against Division II Cheyney State could be interesting.
In todays’ “championship” game, WVU defeated the Salukis 73-55, thanks to a big 4th quarter. The Mountaineers were led by Quinnerly’s 21 points and Diggs’s 18-10 double-double. Randle had another huge game for SIU, with 30 points and 11 boards.
Last edited by xAC (11/25/2023 9:35 pm)
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