A runaway win for men’s basketball and the induction of eight former varsity student-athletes and a national championship-winning team into the GW Athletic Hall of Fame highlighted a busy Homecoming Weekend at the George Washington University.
The GW men’s basketball team roared to a runaway 90-50 win over visiting La Salle on Sunday at the Charles E. Smith Center, a lopsided victory that made for a celebratory atmosphere at halftime, when the 1927 women’s rifle team and eight individual student-athletes were recognized as the latest inductees into the university’s athletics hall of fame.
Homecoming events began three days earlier with GW’s annual bonfire on University Yard, which featured remarks from George Washington President Steven Knapp, men’s basketball coach Mike Lonergan, women’s basketball coach Jonathan Tsipis and a performance from the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
Big wins for men’s basketball, gymnastics
The weekend brought warm weather and hot shooting.
Five players scored in double figures in GW’s victory over overmatched La Salle. The Colonials shot a season-best 29 of 50 from the floor and made 14 of 20 of their 3-point attempts. GW connected on 10 threes in the first half. They never trailed in the contest, leading by as many as 41 points.
With the win, GW (20-7, 9-5 Atlantic 10) reached the 20-win mark for the third straight season.
Also in athletics: Sophomore Jillian Winstanley and the 17th-ranked GW gymnastics team extended their home unbeaten streak to 17 straight matches with a first-place finish in the annual Pink Meet. GW (13-2 overall) scored 195.40 to top East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) rivals North Carolina (193.75) and New Hampshire (193.70). William & Mary (193.175) finished fourth.
The GW women’s basketball team, playing for the eighth straight game without senior Naismith Trophy candidate Jonquel Jones, fell to Virginia Commonwealth, 78-69, Sunday on senior day. Junior Caira Washington led four Colonials in double figures with 16 points.
Celebrations continue
Celebrations surrounding George Washington’s 284th birthday, which coincides with Homecoming Weekend, continue throughout February. Students, faculty and staff made a trip to Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate on Monday, where Dr. Knapp led a short ceremony and placed a wreath at Washington’s tomb. Kathleen (Kata) Bartoloni-Tuazon, Ph.D. ’10, delivers the annual George Washington Lecture on Monday night.
Alumni birthday bashes in cities around the world will take place through the end of the month.
