Nov. 13, 2009

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

FAIRFAX, Va. - Junior Ashleigh Braxton led all scorers with 16 points on 75 percent shooting and the George Mason women's basketball team used a strong run to begin the second half in cruising to a 66-49 win over Norfolk State in both teams' season opener.

The Patriots (1-0) won their lid-lifter for the first time since 2005 as Mason out-shot the Spartans (0-1) by a 44.3-to-33.3 percent margin in the game and won the turnover battle by six. Mason received double digit scoring from Braxton, who was playing in her first game as a Patriot after red-shirting the 2008-09 season, as well as sophomore Rachel Robinson who poured in 15 points. Robinson along with freshman Janaa Pickard led the Patriots with six rebounds while Pickard added two more game-highs with four steals and three blocks.

Marquilla Evans led NSU with 14 points while Danelle Tate added 11. The Spartans, who held a 40-to-36 rebounding advantage, saw Evans complete a double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Patriots led early as Braxton and junior Brittany Poindexter made it 5-2, but Mason had trouble pulling away from NSU as each team shook off rust from the off-season. The teams combined for 25 turnovers in the first half and were tied at 20 before the Patriots outscored its opposition by a 9-5 margin over the final five minutes of the half to take the lead into the break.

Mason was red-hot out of the locker room in the second half, opening on an 11-0 run and never trailed less than double-digits in the period, seeing their field goal shooting percentage jump to 51.7 percent (15-29) in the half. NSU, meanwhile, was limited to 28.1 percent field goal shooting (9-32) as the Patriots took a victory in the first meeting between the two teams since 1981.

The Patriots hit the road for the first time in the young 2009-10 season, visiting in-state and former CAA rival Richmond on Monday afternoon. Tip time from the Robins Center is set for 4 p.m.