Jan. 4, 2009

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason women's basketball team faced a tough test in opening their Colonial Athletic Association slate against James Madison, and after hanging with the Dukes through the early moments, Mason ultimately fell, 90-65, on Sunday afternoon at Patriot Center.

James Madison (8-4, 1-0) used 60.7 percent field goal shooting, led by 29 points from Dawn Evans, to seize control of the game midway through the first half. The Patriots (2-9, 0-1), meanwhile, saw four scorers reach double figures as they eclipsed the 60-point mark for the third straight game. Sophomore Brittany Eley was the top scorer for Mason with a career-high 18 points, while sophomore Brittany Poindexter led the Patriots off the glass with nine rebounds.

Eley struck first for the Patriots, but an 8-0 run by the Dukes put JMU ahead early with just over two minutes off the clock in the game. Mason cut the deficit to a point at 9-8 with three-straight fast-break layups, and after a Duke basket, tied the game at 11 on a three-point play by senior Brittney Wilkins. The lead would change hands four more times, ultimately with a 9-0 Dukes run that put them ahead 24-16 with seven minutes remaining in the half.

Mason made a charge at regaining the lead, pulling within four points at 25-21 with 4:12 remaining after three Eley free throws, but the Dukes held the Patriots off, expanding their lead as large as 13 before a Broadus jumper with 24 seconds left set the halftime score at 38-27.

JMU out-shot the Patriots from the field by a 53.6-to-31.3 margin in the first half and held a slim 19-to-17 rebounding advantage at the break.

It was all James Madison to begin the second half, as the Dukes began the period with an 11-0 run spanning more than three minutes, ended by a Becky Cox layup at the 16:41 mark to leave the score 49-29. Cox would score the next three baskets for the Patriots.

Mason would continue to battle the Dukes, embarking on a 7-0 run of its own to pull within 60-45 with 11:34 left. However, James Madison proved to be too much down the stretch as the Dukes earned the win and improved their winning streak against Mason to eight games.

The Patriots will look for a return to the win column when they return to action on Tuesday evening in their non-conference finale against St. Joseph's. Tip off from Patriot Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.