Inspired Flyers pull no punches
Spot in A-10 final is prize after avenging loss to Colonials.
— Dayton’s RICHMOND, VA. highly-regarded women’s basketball team had two alternatives after being figuratively struck in the face during last week’s regular-season loss to George Washington: recoil or come out swinging. It chose the latter.
The top-seeded Flyers, inspired and perhaps a bit angry, delivered a devastating counterpunch in Saturday’s semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 tournament. Relentless on defense and crisp on offense, Dayton pounded the Colonials 89-68. The Flyers, who trailed only once, very early, will face third-seeded Fordham in today’s 11 a.m. championship game.
“Our guys showed up today,” said Dayton coach Jim Jabir. “They executed our game plan probably as well as they have all year. They played intensely and aggressively and physically.”
Especially physically. Dayton (23-6) dominated the glass and owned a 46-22 advantage in points in the paint. Memory was to a large extent responsible, Jabir said.
George Washington “pretty much smacked us in the mouth” en route to an 88-79 victory in last week’s regular-season finale, Jabir said. “They punched us in the face and it hurt. Today, I think, we wanted to return the favor.”
The usual suspects did much of Dayton’s damage on offense. Guard Andrea Hoover, the A-10 player of the year, scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Forward Ally Malott scored 19 points and pulled down nine rebounds. The two combined for five 3-pointers.
More significant, perhaps, was Dayton’s defense. The Flyers permitted six first-half field goals and 20 for the game.
They were conspicuously successful against Colonials post player Jonquel Jones, a 6-foot-4 sophomore who scored 30 points in GW’s secondround victory over Saint Joseph’s. Jones scored six points on 2-of-12 shooting against Dayton.
Flyers forward Cassie Sant, often stitched to Jones like a shadow, bumped and jostled the GW standout. Drop-down perimeter help was never far away.
“I just tried to limit her touches as much as possible,” Sant said. “I wanted to be physical with her. I wanted to maybe get into her head a little bit.”
The consequences were significant, said GW coach Jonathan Tsipis. Jones’ removal from the equation, Tsipis said, “essentially meant no points in the paint” from the Colonials’ halfcourt offense.
Guard Danni Jackson led George Washington (21-10) with 19 points and seven assists.
Dayton and Fordham met once during the regular season. The Flyers, playing at home, won 7364 on Jan. 19.