Nov. 19, 2005

Box Score

Fairfax, Va.--Four Patriots scored in double figures to help lead George Mason University's women's basketball team to a 75-64 victory in its season opener over Mount St. Mary's Saturday afternoon at the Patriot Center.

Senior guard Jen Daniels (Brigantine, N.J.) led the Patriots in points with 19, dished out a team-best four assists and grabbed nine defensive boards in the win. Sophomore forward Moni Akintunde (Laurel, Md.) pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds and added a team second-best 17 points, while sophomore forward Jessica Smith (Dartmouth, Mass.) chipped in 11 points after shooting 5-9 from the field in her first career start. Freshman Nikkia Slade (F; Yorktown, Va.) was the other Patriot to score in double figures as she added 10 in her first collegiate game.

Four of the Mount's starters netted double figure points, including a game-high showing from junior LaToya Butler (20), while junior Dita Krumberga and senior Samira Rashid both poured in 11 points on the afternoon. Sophomore Tiffany Green added 10 points for MSM, as well as three assists.

Mason had a total of 46 free throw attempts, making 28 of them for a free throw percentage of 61 percent, while the Mount was only at the line 25 times and netted 17 of those attempts. The Patriots narrowly outshot MSM as Mason was 22-54 from the field, while the Mount shot 39 percent (22-56) on the afternoon.

The Patriots led the entire game, but did not have a double-digit advantage until the eight-minute mark of the second half after Smith made a layup to put the score at 59-48. Mason acquired its largest lead over MSM with four minutes remaining in the game after Akintunde netted one of her nine made free throws (71-53).

This marks the first season opening win for the Patriots since Nov. 22, 2002 when Mason defeated Hartford by a score of 67-56 in Connecticut.

Mason will play its last home game in the month of November on Monday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. against Howard.