Game 61: Women vs. California

The #20/16 women's team faces third-seeded #10/8 California (27-6) this evening in the second round of the NCAA Tournament from Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, CA. Sixth-seeded GW (26-6) is coming off of a 66-56 win over 11th-seeded Auburn on Saturday. In that one, four Colonials reached double figures in scoring: Jessica Adair (17 points, 13 rebounds), Antelia Parrish (15 points, seven rebounds, three steals), Sarah-Jo Lawrence (11 points, six rebounds, five assists), and Whitney Allen (11 points, eight rebounds). GW is making its sixth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 15th overall, all of which have come under the direction of head coach Joe McKeown. Last season, the fifth-seeded Colonials knocked off 12th-seeded Boise State and fourth-seeded Texas A&M before falling to top-seeded North Carolina in the regional semifinals.

The Golden Bears, who were picked to finish third out of 10 teams in the Pacific 10 Conference, return four starters from the squad that went 23-9 and lost to Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. California has three players averaging double figures in scoring: First Team All-Pac-10 selections 6-1 junior forward/center Ashley Walker (15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds per game this season), who led the conference in rebounding and double-doubles, and 6-3 junior forward/center Devanei Hampton (13.9 points, eight rebounds), who was also named to the conference's All-Defensive Team, and Second Team All-Pac-10 selection 5-8 junior guard Alexis Gray-Lawson (1.5 points, 3.7 rebounds). Coach Joanne Boyle is 68-27 in her third season at California; she is 135-56 in six seasons as a head coach. Boyle was the head coach at Richmond from 2002 to 2005, where she went 0-7 against McKeown's GW squads. Coming into the NCAA Tournament, the Golden Bears ranked 12th in the nation in scoring defense, sixth in defensive field goal percentage, and ninth in rebounding margin.

California is coming off of a 77-60 win over 14th-seeded San Diego on Saturday. In that one, two Golden Bears reached double figures in scoring: Hampton (22 points, four rebounds) and Walker (21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals). California shot 30-62 (48.4%) from the field, forced 24 San Diego turnovers, and won the points in the paint battle 48-20. The win was just the second in the program's NCAA Tournament history, the fitst since 1993. The Golden Bears come into this one 4-3 in their last seven games. California reached the final of the Pacific 10 Conference Tournament before falling to #4/7 Stanford 56-35. The Golden Bears are 14-5 away from their home court and 3-1 on neutral floors.

This is the first-ever meeting between these programs.

This is a tough pick to make. GW struggled the last time it faced a team with a heavy interior presence, losing to Xavier in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. If the Adair sisters get into foul trouble, it could be a rough night for the Colonials. However, it seems as though this team is up to the challenge California presents. The pick here is for GW to reach the Sweet 16 for the second-straight year.

Paul Marmaro and I have the call for WRGW with Greg Shapiro, Julian Gompertz, David Earl, and Ben Toder handling production duties. You can listen here starting at 7.30 p.m. Eastern Time. Dave Pasch, Deb Antonelli, and Heather Cox have the call for ESPN2. You can watch live starting at eight p.m. Eastern Time.

Game notes: GW is 17-14 in the NCAA Tournament...The Colonials are 3-9 in the second round...GW is 2-1 as a six seed, having beaten Maine before falling to Virginia in 1996...McKeown is 17-16 in 16 NCAA Tournament appearances...McKeown's New Mexico State squads reached the tournament in 1987 and 1988...The current senior class is 5-3 in the NCAA Tournament...GW is 6-3 against teams that qualified for this season's tournament...The wins came against Virginia, Western Kentucky, Texas A&M, Auburn twice, and Xavier...The losses came to Rutgers, Temple, and Xavier...GW is 7-3 against teams from the Pac-10...The Colonials have matched the program record for wins in back-to-back seasons...GW is 54-10 over the last two seasons...The Colonials went 54-13 from 1995 to 1997...GW is 1-0 on Mondays, 14-0 when scoring at least 70 points, and 17-0 when holding opponents under 60 points...The Colonials are 12-5 away from the Smith Center and 3-2 on neutral courts...California's 27 wins are the most in program history...The previous record was set by the 1983-1984 squad, which went 24-8...The Golden Bears are 2-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament...Walker is averaging 20.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in three career NCAA Tournament games...The Golden Bears are 7-5 against teams that qualified for this season's tournament.

More to follow from Maples Pavilion once we get closer to tip-off. Please check back later.

Update, 7.27 p.m. - Here were the starting lineups:

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)
C - Jessica Adair (6-4 junior from Washington, DC)

California
G - Natasha Vital (5-8 sophomore from Stockton, CA)
G - Alexis Gray-Lawson (5-8 junior from Oakland, CA)
G - Lauren Greif (5-10 sophomore from Portland, OR)
F - Ashley Walker (6-1 junior from Fairfield, CA)
C - Devanei Hampton (6-3 junior from Oakland, CA)

Lawrence is the hero as her buzzer-beating jumper off an offensive rebound sends the Colonials dancing onto Greensboro, NC, where they will face either second-seeded Rutgers or seventh-seeded Iowa State on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights pounded the Colonials 67-42 when the two teams met at the Smith Center on November 18. That was the beginning of a stretch that saw McKeown's squad lose three of its next five games.

GW heads to the Sweet 16 for the second-straight year, marking the first time in program history that the Colonials have reached the regional semifinals in back-to-back years. Unfortunately, I have a flight to catch, so we'll be back in the morning with much more. As always, thanks for stopping by.