Game 62: Women vs. Rutgers

The #20/16 women's team faces second-seeded #7/7 Rutgers (26-6) this afternoon in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament from Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. Sixth-seeded GW (27-6) is coming off of a 55-53 win over third-seeded #10/8 California on Monday night in Palo Alto, CA. Sarah-Jo Lawrence's putback of a Kimberly Beck air-ball as the buzzer sounded lifted the Colonials to the dramatic victory and sent the program to the Sweet 16 in back-to-back years for the first time in school history. In that one, three GW players reached double figures in scoring: Antelia Parrish (15 points, 10 rebounds), Lawrence (13 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals), and Jessica Adair (11 points, eight rebounds).

The Scarlet Knights, who were picked to finish second in the Big East, were tabbed at #3 in both preseason polls. Last season, Rutgers went 27-9 and was the national runner-up, falling to Tennessee 59-46 in the NCAA Tournament title game. The Scarlet Knights return all five starters from that team, and have four players averaging double figures in scoring: All-Big East First Team selection 5-9 sophomore guard Epiphanny Prince (14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds per game this season), All-Big East First Team selection 5-8 senior guard Matee Ajavon (12.2 points, 5.2 assists), Big East Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team selection 6-0 senior guard/forward Essence Carson (10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds), and All-Big East Second Team selection 6-4 junior center Kia Vaughn (10.2 points, 8.3 rebounds). Coach C. Vivian Stringer is in her 13th season with the Scarlet Knights, holding a record of 283-131; she is 803-266 in 37 seasons as a head coach.

Rutgers is coming off of a 69-58 win over seventh-seeded Iowa State on Monday in Des Moines, IA. In that one, four Scarlet Knights reached double figures in scoring: Vaughn (23 points, five rebounds), Prince (17 points, six rebounds), Ajavon (16 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals), and Carson (10 points, three steals). Rutgers has been ranked in the top five in both national polls for much of the season, never falling lower than seventh. The Scarlet Knights are 12-5 away from Piscataway, NJ. This is Rutgers' 19th-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights are 6-3 in regional semifinal games.

This is the 35th-ever meeting between these former Atlantic 10 rivals; GW is 8-26. The last meeting came on November 18, 2007, which #6/7 Rutgers won 67-42 at the Smith Center. In that one, Adair (nine points, five rebounds), Beck (nine points), and Lawrence (nine points, four rebounds) paced the #14/12 Colonials. However, GW was held to just 13-59 (22%) shooting from the field. The Scarlet Knights had three players reach double figures in scoring: Ajavon (19 points), Vaughn (13 points, 12 rebounds), and Carson (12 points, seven rebounds). Rutgers has won the last two meetings in the series.

There was something about seeing Rutgers yesterday during the team's media session and open practice. The players seemed a little too loose during their workout, laughing through many of the drills. Stringer didn't know Beck or Lawrence's name. Rutgers is talented enough to not prepare fully for GW and still win, but I smell all the makings of an upset. I have a sneaking suspicion the Colonials are the team that wants it more.

Paul Marmaro and I have the call for WRGW with Alex Tainsh, Ben Toder, and Julian Gompertz handling production duties. You can listen here starting at two p.m. Mike Patrick, Doris Burke, and Rebecca Lobo have the call for ESPN2. You can watch live starting at 2.30 p.m.

Game notes: GW is 18-14 in the NCAA Tournament...The Colonials are 1-2 in the regional semifinals...The win came against North Carolina in 1997...The losses were to Colorado in 1995 and North Carolina last season...GW is 3-1 as a six seed, having beaten Maine before falling to Virginia in 1996...McKeown is 18-16 in 16 NCAA Tournament appearances...McKeown's New Mexico State squads reached the tournament in 1987 and 1988...The current senior class is 6-3 in the NCAA Tournament...GW is 7-3 against teams that qualified for this season's tournament...The wins came against Virginia, Western Kentucky, Texas A&M, Auburn twice, California, and Xavier...The losses came to Rutgers, Temple, and Xavier...The Colonials have broken the program record for wins in back-to-back seasons...GW is 55-10 over the last two seasons...The Colonials went 54-13 from 1995 to 1997...GW is 5-2 on Sundays, 14-0 when scoring at least 70 points, and 18-0 when holding opponents under 60 points...The Colonials are 13-5 away from the Smith Center and 4-2 on neutral courts...This is Rutgers' fourth-straight Sweet 16 appearance...Carson appeared in her 131st career game against Iowa State, a record for the program...Vaughn needs just 13 points to become the 27th player in Rutgers history with 1,000 career points.

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

Update, 5.59 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)

Rutgers
G - Matee Ajavon (5-8 senior from Newark, NJ)
G - Epiphanny Prince (5-9 sophomore from Brooklyn, NY)
F - Essence Carson (6-0 senior from Paterson, NJ)
F - Heather Zurich (6-1 junior from Montvale, NJ)
C - Kia Vaughn (6-4 junior from Bronx, NY)

GW's season comes to an end following a 53-42 loss to the Scarlet Knights. The Colonials trailed by 12 at the half, but closed within four with just under four minutes to play. However, Carson took over down the stretch, scoring the final nine points for Rutgers, who will face top-seeded Connecticut on Tuesday with a Final Four bid on the line.