Dec. 19, 2007

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Sophomore Rashauna Hobbs paced the George Mason women's basketball team with a career-high 18 points to lead the Patriots past American, 57-49, opening a four-game homestand on Wednesday evening at the Patriot Center. Mason leveled its season mark at 4-4 by snapping a two-game losing streak, while the Eagles fell to 6-5.

Joining Hobbs in double figures was senior Lateisha Wade, who chipped in 10 points, six coming from the free throw line in the final 44 seconds of the game. Senior Moni Akintunde led the Patriots off the glass with seven rebounds. For the Eagles, guard Liz Hayes led with 18 points.

Despite a 15-day layoff for exams, the Patriots were red-hot out of the gate, outscoring the Eagles by a 24-6 margin within the first 10:37 of the contest. However, the momentum shifted to the AU side with a 17-2 scoring spree to close the opening stanza, including 12 unanswered points before the horn sounded. In the first half, Mason out-shot the Eagles by a 44.4-to-33.3 percent margin.

American opened the second half in the same manner in which it closed the first, with an 8-2 run spanning 3:42 to take its largest lead of the game at 31-28. After a Brittany Eley trey tied the game at 31, the teams traded baskets. Mason ultimately took control of the game with a 9-0 run to set the margin at 47-39 with 7:42 to go. The Eagles advanced no closer than four points at 50-46 with 72 seconds left, as Mason outscored AU 7-2 to hold on for the victory.

Mason will look to continue its winning ways on Saturday when it hosts Fordham at the Patriot Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.