The George Washington women's basketball team needed a half to get going, but the Colonials seemed to break out of their three-game slump yesterday with a 71-59 victory over Dayton before 702 at Smith Center.
Jessica Simmonds recovered from the food poisoning that hampered her against La Salle on Friday to lead GW (14-7, 7-3 Atlantic 10) with 18 points.
GW has struggled offensively recently. Since shooting 63 percent from the field against St. Bonaventure on Jan. 23, the Colonials had not shot better than 38 percent in their last three games. They shot a woeful 29 percent in their 65-53 loss to La Salle, but managed to make 41 percent of their attempts against the Flyers yesterday.
"It has been three games that we didn't play really good, execute good," said Anna Montañana, whose six assists moved her into fourth place on GW's career list. "I think we kind of decided it was enough. Hopefully, it will carry over. . . . I don't want my coach to die of a heart attack."
The first half against Dayton (10-11, 4-6) was more of the same. GW had good looks at the basket, but didn't make shots. After Whitney Allen -- who had career highs in points (12) and rebounds (nine) -- sank a jump shot to give the Colonials a 14-8 lead, GW did not make another field goal for 7 minutes 40 seconds. During that span, the Colonials missed nine shots, turned over the ball six times and made only 1 of 4 free throws.
At this point in the season, Colonials' opponents have figured out GW's strengths and weaknesses. They know the Colonials don't have a consistent outside shooting threat and that Simmonds and Montañana are the top scorers.
"We're seeing some zones," GW Coach Joe McKeown said. "We're seeing some junk defenses on Montañana and Simmonds. People are trying to make other players beat them. To counter that, we have to get out in transition. We've got to run and turn people over."
In the second half, GW followed McKeown's advice. The Colonials forced four turnovers in the first 3 1/2 minutes and converted Dayton's miscues into layups. Down 34-28 at halftime, they used a 12-2 run to take the lead.
With Dayton reeling, Kim Beck, GW's indefatigable point guard, crushed the Flyers' spirit. Beck scored seven points within 23 seconds to put the Colonials ahead, 49-42, with 11:46 remaining.
Beck, who had missed her first three three-point attempts, was fouled as she threw up a shot from in front of the Colonials' bench. The ball went through the net, and she sank her free throw to convert the four-point play. Then Beck stole the ball from Terri Ramsey, made the layup and was fouled. She made the foul shot for another three points.
Dayton did not threaten the rest of the way. After missing 7 of 10 foul shots in the first half, GW went 10 of 10 from the line in the second half.
"That's what gets our offense going, defense," Beck said. "So when we step it up on defense, I think our offense is going to come every time."
• MARYLAND 87, CLEMSON 82: Ashleigh Newman hit seven three-pointers and finished with a career-high 21 points for the visiting No. 20 Terrapins, sending the Tigers to their eighth straight loss.
Kalika France scored 14 of her 19 points in the second half for Maryland (16-5, 5-4 ACC).
