Feb. 3, 2008

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - A late run by Virginia Commonwealth allowed the Rams to pull away from the George Mason women's basketball team for a 63-51 Colonial Athletic Association victory Sunday afternoon before 2,524 fans at Patriot Center, the fourth-largest home crowd in Mason women's basketball history. Mason (8-12, 2-7 CAA) dropped its third-straight game, while the Rams improved to 17-3, 7-2 in the conference.

Mason was led by double-figure outings from seniors Lateisha Wade and Moni Akintunde, who chipped in 14 and 10 points each. The Rams, who held a 44-24 rebounding advantage, were led by 20 points from Krystal Vaughn and Quanitra Hollingsworth's 35th career double-double, as the redshirt junior scored 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

VCU opened up an early lead, but after Hobbs tied the game at seven with a 3-pointer, the Rams would not hold the advantage for the duration of the half, as Mason controlled much of the period. The Patriots led by as many as six at 20-14 with 5:22 remaining, but a 7-1 run by VCU eliminated the gap and sent both teams to the locker room with the game tied at 21. In the first half, Mason out-shot the Rams by a 39.1-to-31.0 percent margin in field goals, while VCU held a 21-16 advantage off the glass.

Out of the break, VCU again struck first with five points by Vaughn. Mason answered back with buckets by Wade and Smith to bring the score within one. However, the Rams answered back with four points to open up a five-point lead at 30-25. Again, the Patriots fought their way back into the contest, tying the game eventually at 33. A topsy-turvy battle ensued, with neither team taking a lead larger than three, until a 9-0 VCU run spanning 3:29, put the Rams ahead by 10 at 57-47. Mason ended the run with a Wade free throw but could not overcome the deficit as VCU picked up its seventh conference win of the year.

The 2,524 fans in attendance represented a season-high, and was the fourth-largest crowd to witness a Mason women's basketball game. Sunday's game was "Pack The House Day," as Mason is competing with other schools in the CAA in the Pack the House Challenge.

Mason will return to action on Thursday evening when it hosts nationally-ranked CAA foe Old Dominion. Tip-off at Patriot Center is set for 7 p.m.