Feb. 4, 2007

Box Score

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's women's basketball team (8-13, 2-9 CAA) dropped a 57-54 decision to the visiting Virginia Commonwealth Rams (11-10, 4-7) in a Colonial Athletic Association match-up Sunday afternoon at the Patriot Center.

After being down by two, Mason responded with a 7-2 run to put the score at 17-12 at the 10:32 mark after junior guard Casey Quigley (Springfield, Va.), who ended with a team-high 15 points, dished out a pass to senior forward Tracy Ann Holness (Brooklyn, N.Y.) who netted a 2-pointer for one of her two made field goals of the first half. The Patriots had their largest lead of the opening stanza with just over four minutes remaining (23-16) after Quigley sank one from long range. Holness scored the final basket of the half with one second reading on the clock and Mason went into the break with a six-point advantage (24-18).

About eight minutes into the second half, Mason matched its largest lead of the game of 14 (37-23) after senior forward Nikkia Slade (Yorktown, Va.) netted a 2-pointer. VCU pulled ahead for the first time since the opening minutes of the contest after La'Tavia Rorie made a layup at the 5:08 mark (44-43).

The Patriots tied it at 45 after Quigley made both of her attempts at the line, but that was the closest Mason would get in the closing minutes. The Rams took their largest lead of eight with 26 seconds left (57-49) after Michele Cosel sank both free throws. Mason then pulled within three (57-54) with nine seconds remaining after Quigley sank a trey, but she missed her attempt from long range as time expired, which would have sent the game into overtime.

VCU center Quanitra Hollingsworth ended with a game-high 19 points and her 21st career double-double as she grabbed a game-best 13 boards. Michele Cosel added 13 for the Rams, while Brittany Pinkney pulled down a career-best 11 caroms.

Mason shot 37 percent from the field (19-of-51), while VCU made 19 of its 58 attempts (33 percent). The Rams edged the Patriots on the boards, 44-41, and Mason shot 61 percent from the charity stripe to VCU's 52 percent.

The Patriots will return to action when they host Delaware on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.