Game two: Women vs. DT3 All-Stars

The #13 women's team hosts the DT3 All-Stars, a squad of former collegiate players, in their only exhibition game of the season tonight at the Smith Center. This will mark the first time that freshman Erica Rivera and transfer Antelia Parrish step on the court in a game situation in front of the home crowd.

The Colonials were the unanimous preseason pick to win the Atlantic 10 by coaches and media members, and were tabbed at #13 in the first ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll of the year. Joe McKeown and company return four starters from the squad that advanced all the way to the second weekend of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

According to GW's press release, DT3 features former Maryland student-athletes Crystal Washington, Sonya Chase, Jessica Hicks, as well as former players from North Carolina, Kentucky, and Coppin State, among others. There are apparently multiple DT3 teams: one lost to #14 California by a score of 84-63 on Wednesday, while another fell 86-57 to Miami (FL) on the same night.

Regardless of who is on the incarnation of DT3 who shows up at the Smith Center tonight, you have to think the Colonials will roll.

Max Feinblatt and Varun Saxena have the call for WRGW with David Earl and Sammy Gelfand handling production duties. You can listen here starting at 6.40 p.m.

Game notes: The Colonials have won three straight exhibition games...GW's last exhibition loss came to Everyone's Internet by a score of 69-64 on November 6, 2004...That game marked Kimberly Beck's first appearance in a GW uniform.

Starting lineups and other notes to follow from the Smith Center once we get closer to tip-off. I'll be doing live blogging all night (and all season for the men and women), so please check back later.

Update, 5.33 p.m. - Just spoke to Jesse Hooker, the Sports Information Director for the women, and it turns out that DT3 is essentially a big AAU team based out of Tallahassee, FL. He confirmed that there are numerous versions of the squad, noting that three different DT3s were in action on Halloween night. Hooker also told me that Kendra Wecker, a former All-American at Kansas State and a current member of the WNBA's San Antonio Silver Stars, played for a DT3 team in California last night and flew across the country to face the Colonials tonight.

Update, 6.42 p.m. - Watch out for Parrish tonight. The transfer from Prince George's Community College (Largo, MD) was named a First Team NJCAA Division II All-American in 2006 after averaging 25.7 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 5.1 steals per game. She was also named the Most Valuable Player of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament that season after averaging 28.3 points and 16.3 rebounds in four games. The people I've talked to around the program say she's been extremely impressive in practice. If Parrish can step in and contribute right away, then this team with a #13 preseason ranking will be even better.

Update, 6.49 p.m. - Here is the Colonials' starting lineup:

GW
G - Kimberly Beck (5-8 senior from Fairburn, GA)
G - Sarah-Jo Lawrence (5-11 senior from Rhoadesville, VA)
F - Whitney Allen (5-11 senior from Woodbridge, VA)
F - Antelia Parrish (6-0 junior from Washington, DC)
F - Jazmine Adair (6-3 junior from Washington, DC)

While we wait for the DT3 lineup, a couple other things worth mentioning: until two minutes ago, you could count the number of people in the student section on two hands; now it would take three or four hands. In fashion news, McKeown is wearing windpants for this exhibition game on casual Friday.

Update, 7.00 p.m. - Here is the DT3 All-Stars' starting lineup:

DT3
G - Patechia Hartman (5-9; formerly of Georgia)
G - Danielle Payne (5-9; formerly of Kentucky)
G - Dawn Chriss (5-11; formerly of Virginia Tech)
F - Kendra Wecker (6-0; formerly of Kansas State)
F - Alicia Watson (6-1; formerly of Austin Peay)

Update, 7.09 p.m. - A number of men's players in the student section tonight, which is always nice to see. There has also been a Kenan Cole sighting. I have been told by Joanna Shapes of The Hatchet that Cole is a member of the Presidential Administrative Fellowship, which isn't surprising; it takes someone special to balance a college basketball career with a major in mechanical engineering.

Update, 7.19 p.m. - Fast start by the Colonials. Jazmine set the tone on the defensive end with an emphatic block in the first minute. Parrish has been confused by the play calling on offense, as she's been out of position when Beck looked to get her the ball a couple of times. That's why they play an exhibition game.

Update, 7.22 p.m. - Lawrence just took a poke to the face while fighting for a loose ball. She is currently being examined by a couple of trainers; from here it looks as though she was cut right below her right eye. Rivera has since checked in for her first game minutes in a GW uniform. Parrish has shown some nice range with her jumper in the first nine minutes.

Update, 7.30 p.m. - Just when DT3 had made it interesting again, Rivera comes along with a couple of steals that help balloon the lead back to nine. She's brought some energy off the bench, especially the tenacity on the defensive end. Just from the first 12 minutes of play, it's clear the Colonials can beat opponents in a number of ways. This is going to be a fun team to watch.

Update, 7.37 p.m. - Parrish comes back from being out of position on the previous possession and drains a three from the corner. That's seven points for her, which Lawrence for the team high. Speaking of Lawrence, she has been taken back to the locker room. I'll try to get an update.

Update, 7.49 p.m. - Just spoke to Ryan Hudson, an Athletics Communications official, and he said that Lawrence was hit in the eye and confirmed that she was taken to the locker room for precautionary reasons. You have to think that with this being an exhibition game, we won't see her again tonight.

Update, 7.57 p.m. - GW goes into intermission with a 54-35 lead after shooting 57.5% in the first half. Parrish has a game-high 13 points, while Rivera has four points to go along with four steals; pretty good first impressions. Stefani Munro could be an interesting player to watch this year. She struggled last season as the primary backup at the point, forcing Beck to average a team-high 36.1 minutes per game. If she can contribute at all, it could help keep Beck fresh come tournament time. In the first half, Munro had five points but turned the ball over four times.

Update, 8.10 p.m. - Ms. Shapes of The Hatchet spotted Rob Diggs in the crowd wearing a brace on his wrist, so she went over and inquired. Here's what she found out. Certainly not good news, but I guess it could be worse. We'll have to keep our eyes on him in the season opener, which is just over a week from now.

In women's injury news, Lawrence is back on the court sporting a very swollen right eye to start the second half. I'm surprised to see her back out there with GW holding a comfortable lead in a game that doesn't count.

Update, 8.24 p.m. - Not much to say, as the Colonials are simply beating DT3 in every aspect of the game. Below Lawrence's swollen eye is a giant band-aid. She looks like she could take Sylvester Stallone's role if there is ever a Rocky VII. Hopefully there isn't.

Update, 8.30 p.m. - Lisa Steele's three with just over nine minutes remaining gives GW its largest lead of the game at 23, and also puts 10 different Colonials in the scoring column; every player McKeown has put on the court has scored.

Update, 8.48 p.m. - Lora Mitchell has checked into the game for GW. For the record, she can dunk. I have never seen it with my own eyes, but I know several people who have. Even though Mitchell is a senior, she has rarely played in her time at Foggy Bottom, but you'd never know it: she is always energetic in practice and during games, and she is usually the first player off the bench to greet her teammates. Mitchell is the type of player and person a good team needs if it wants to become better. Meanwhile, she caps off my list of compliments with an easy put back.

Update, 8.55 p.m. - GW cruises to an easy 95-68 win. Four players reach double figures in scoring, led by Parrish's game-high 18. I'll be back in a little while with postgame audio.

Update, 10.06 p.m. - You can hear the audio from the postgame press conferences with Allen, Beck, and Parrish here and McKeown here.

Live blogging will be back a week from tonight when the women open the regular season on the road against Maryland-Baltimore County. Thanks for stopping by.