Jan. 8, 2009

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - Senior Brittney Wilkins recorded her first career double-double, but the George Mason women's basketball team was unable to come back from a late first-half run by VCU as the Rams defeated the Patriots, 67-43, in Colonial Athletic Association action on Thursday night at the Siegel Center.

Wilkins led the Mason (2-11, 0-2 CAA) offense with 13 points and added 10 rebounds, tying a career high in that category. Joining her in double figures was sophomore Brittany Eley who had 11 points. Leading the way for the Rams (11-3, 1-1) was La'Tavia Rorie who scored a game-high 17 points.

VCU opened the game with six straight points, but the Patriots were able to pull within a point at 8-7, as Wilkins drained her first career 3-pointer at the 15:36 mark. Broadus tied the game on a free throw and that score would hold for more than three minutes until Jennifer Lane hit a trey for the Rams to put them ahead. Mason tied it up at 11 with an Eley three-point play, but after swapping points for the next few minutes, the Rams embarked on a 10-0 run to close out the half, ended by a Rachel Robinson layup with 45 seconds remaining in the half.

Mason limited VCU to 32.3 percent shooting (10-for-31) from the field in the first half, but was out-rebounded by a 20-to-13 margin and turned the ball over 13 times compared to six giveaways for the Rams.

Out of the break, the game continued to swing in the Rams' favor, as they used a 14-2 run after Mason cut the lead to nine to regain control of the scoreboard. Poindexter stopped the run with a pair of free throws, but the Rams maintained a firm grasp on their lead for the duration of the contest, with Mason moving no closer than 20 down the stretch.

The Patriots are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they host CAA foe Towson at 2 p.m.