PISCATAWAY, N.J. - As long as the clock was moving in Saturday's Washington State-George Washington women's basketball game, the Cougars were staying with the Colonials shot for shot.

But it was the attempts that were taken when the clock was stopped that ended the Cougars' aspirations of victory.

After playing GWU on even terms in the first half, WSU could not overcome a blistering performance from the Colonials at the free throw line in the second half during its 76-62 defeat in the opening game of the Rutgers' Coca-Cola Classic at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.

In that second half, WSU (1-1) was 13-of-26 from the floor (.500), compared to the Colonials' 12-of-27 (.444). The difference proved to be at the line as GWU (2-1) shot a scorching 22-of-23 (.957) compared to the Cougars' 6-of-16 (.375) effort from the charity stripe. For the game, WSU was 13-of-27 (.481) from the line while the Colonials shot over 80 percent (26-of-31).

But WSU had the advantage from the stripe in the first half, making four more free throws than the Colonials. Ironically, it was that difference that kept the Cougars within close distance of GWU as WSU shot 9-of-28 (.321) from the floor compared to the Colonials 12-of-24 (.500).

In fact, the Cougars held the lead for much of the first half and led by as many as 11 points. Down 4-2 early, WSU went on the first of numerous runs between the two clubs during the game with a 15-2 spurt sparked by two three pointers from Sarah Barrett and concluded by nine straight points from Brittney Hawks. The run gave the Cougars a 17-6 lead at the 13:52 mark of the first half.

But just as soon as WSU established its double-digit list it was quickly eroded from an answering run by GWU. The Colonials proceeded to outscore WSU 14-3 to tie the game at 20 with 7:20 left in the half. During that run, the Cougars missed five of six shots and turned the ball over six times.

WSU would refuse to relinquish the lead however and stubbornly held on to an advantage that ranged from one to three points during the next six minutes of play. Finally, at the 1:20 mark of the half, GWU took a 28-26 lead, its first advantage since the 17:41 mark of the first half.

The Cougars would immediately tie matters up at 28 but a free throw by the Colonials' Elena Vishniakova with a minute left gave GWU a 29-28 lead at the half. As it turned out, it would be a lead WSU could not overcome for the rest of the game.

Both teams traded buckets to open up the second half, but then the Colonials darted out to a 42-30 lead at the 15:39 mark of the half after scoring 11 consecutive points. Once again, turnovers plagued the Cougars as they gave the ball away five times during the Colonials' run. For the game, WSU finished with 26 turnovers.

But just when the Cougars seemed to be out, Barrett gave WSU life with a steal and layup that ended GWU's run and began one for Washington State. Barrett's bucket began a stretch where the Cougars would outscore GWU 16-8 to cut the lead to four at 50-46 with 9:17 left. However, GWU ran off 15 of the next 18 points to put the game away. From the 9:17 mark on WSU would miss 9-of-14 free throws while GWU would convert 18-of-19 from the line.

Hawks led all scorers with her second straight 18-point performance. Barrett and Katie Nyseth added 12 points for the Cougars. GWU was led by 17 points each from Vishniakova and Erica Lawrence.

WSU returns to the floor Sunday at 10 a.m. Pacific against Vermont, a 54-29 loser to No. 7 Rutgers in the second game of the Classic.

--wsucougars.com--