Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

Richmond, Va.--George Mason University's women's basketball team (8-17, 2-13 CAA) could not hold onto a three point halftime lead and fell to Virginia Commonwealth (14-11, 7-8) by a score of 61-52 in a Colonial Athletic Association match-up Sunday afternoon at the Siegel Center in Richmond.

The first half saw nine lead changes and four ties between the Patriots and VCU, with Mason's first lead coming early in the game (4-2) after junior guard Lateisha Wade (Willingboro, N.J.) netted a 2-pointer. Wade, who ended with a team-high 16 points, then converted the three-point play after being fouled by LaKea Jones for her only free throw attempt in the first 20 minutes. With about four minutes remaining, Mason went on a 5-0 run to collect its largest lead of four after junior guard Nikkia Slade (Yorktown, Va.), who scored a 2-pointer to have the scoreboard read 24-20. Mason went into the break with a 24-21 advantage over the Rams.

VCU opened up the second stanza on a 9-1 run, which was halted when junior forward Moni Akintunde (Laurel, Md.) scored the first field goal for the Patriots at 16:18. After being fouled on the play, Akintunde added another point after sinking her attempt at the charity stripe to pull the Patriots within two (30-28). Mason then tied the game at 32 after junior guard Casey Quigley (Springfield, Va.) made both of her attempts at the line, about five minutes into the second half. The Patriots would pull within five with about four minutes left, but that was the closest they would get for the remainder of the game and ended with its 13th conference loss.

Quanitra Hollingsworth ended with a double-double with game-highs in both points (18) and rebounds (10). Krystal Vaughn came off the bench to net a team second-best 17 points, while Jones ended with 11 for the Rams.

Mason shot 35 percent from the field (20-of-57), while the Rams made 19 of their 51 attempts (37 percent) and VCU edged the Patriots on the boards, 40-37.

The Patriots will return to action when they face Old Dominion in Norfolk on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.