Dec. 26, 2012

A-10 WBB NOTEBOOK | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

WHAT'S ON TAP FOR THURSDAY (12/27)
VCU at #24 Ohio State | 7:00PM

A-10 SCOOP
- After a four-day break for the holidays, Atlantic 10 women's basketball teams return to the hardwood tonight. The A-10 is currently 100-83 (.546) against non-conference foes.

- With its victory over Siena (12/22), Dayton improves to 12-0 on the season, tying its best start in program history (UD also started the 1983-84 season 12-0).

-  The University of Dayton women's basketball team continues to break program records. The Flyers moved up one spot in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 Polls, coming in at No. 15 and No. 14, respectively. Both rankings are the highest in UD women's hoops history.

- Duquesne received 19 votes in the AP Top 25 Poll and entered this week's USA Today Coaches Poll with six votes.

- George Washington's Danni Jackson and Rhode Island's Tayra Melendez were honored as the Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Basketball Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively, the league office announced on Monday. The duo was recognized for games played during the week of Dec. 17-23.

- VCU travels to 24^th-ranked Ohio State on Dec. 27.  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.  The Rams then return to the Verizon Wireless Arena for back-to-back home games against Maine (Jan. 1) and Youngstown State (Jan. 4). 

SATURDAY'S (12/22) RESULTS

George Washington 60, George Mason 52       
Senior Danni Jackson scored a season-high 21 points as the George Washington women's basketball team defeated local rival George Mason, 60-52, on Saturday afternoon at the Charles E. Smith Center. GW (6-5) won its second straight over an opponent from the Washington, D.C.-Metro area following last Saturday's thrilling 61-60 victory over Howard.

 #16/15 Dayton 91, Siena 53
Six Flyers scored in double figures in the University of Dayton's 91-53 win over Siena (3-6) Saturday at the Alumni Recreation Center. With the victory Dayton improves to 12-0, tying its best start in program history (UD also started the 1983-84 season 12-0). Sophomore Ally Malott paced UD with 19 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. The Flyers close out the non-conference portion of their schedule on Dec. 30 at Bowling Green in the Stroh Center. Tipoff is 1 p.m. ET.

Providence 78, Rhode Island 52               
Rhode Island (5-7) dropped a 78-52 decision at Providence on Saturday. The Rams return to action after the holiday break when they travel to NJIT for a Dec. 30 meeting with the Highlanders. 

Northeastern 78, Massachusetts 51  
Freshman guard Jasmine Harris had a career-high 14 points, including 11 in the second half; however, UMass women's basketball fell on Northeastern's Solomon Court, 78-51 on Saturday afternoon. Harris also notched personal bests with four made three-pointers and 22 minutes played while sophomore guard Emily Mital added 11 points and freshman guard Rashida Timbilla grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

La Salle 60, Fairfield 50 
Four Explorers scored in double figures, led by Shanel Harrison's game-high 16 points, as the La Salle women's basketball squad picked up its second straight win by outlasting Fairfield 60-50 at Alumni Hall on Saturday. The Explorers improve to 3-9.

Butler 56, Indiana State 45
The Butler women's basketball team will be going home for the holiday with a four-game winning streak after defeating Indiana State 56-45 on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs (7-5) held the Sycamores (8-3) to 28 percent shooting in the second half, allowing Indiana State to score just 19 points. ISU's 45 points was the fewest allowed by Butler since the Bulldogs' 67-43 rout of Cleveland State on Jan. 7, 2012.