Nov. 26, 2010

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Radford used a 12-4 run late in the second half to tie the ballgame at 56-56 with 1:44 to play and added another seven unanswered points to secure a 63-56 non-conference victory over George Mason Friday night in the Patriot Center. The Patriots scored 23 points off the bench, but the Highlanders outscored the Patriots 31-9 over the final 10 minutes for the win.

Redshirt-junior Taleia Moton led Mason's (2-3) offensive output with 16 points as three players followed each contributing nine. Meanwhile, three Highlanders (2-2) scored in double digits led by Da'Naria Erwin Spencer with 18. Denay Wood and Brooke McElroy both added 12. McElroy picked up her first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds leading RU on the glass.

Radford hit 21-of-31 free throws from the charity stripe and went 4-for-5 from three-point range. Mason scored 17 points off 19 Radford turnovers and picked up 26 points in the paint, but could not overcome the late scoring run from the Highlanders.

Mason used a 13-0 run early in the first half to take a commanding 18-6 advantage, but Radford responded with a 10-0 run of their own to cut the score to 18-16 with 5:51 to play in the opening half. Rahneeka Saunders hit a jumper to snap the Highlander run before Angelee LaTouche and Brittany Poindexter combined to put Mason up 24-17 at the 3:49 mark. A 5-0 Radford run made it a one possession ballgame, 24-22, as both teams traded three-pointers for a 27-25 contest. The half ended with both teams taking trips to the free throw line with LaTouche hitting the back end of a pair for a Mason 28-26 lead at the break.

Moton led the Patriot offense at the break, draining seven points on three field goals and a free throw. Saunders and LaTouche each pitched in five points and Amber Easter led on the boards with three rebounds.

Radford knotted the score at 28-28 immediately coming out of the break with a pair of free throws from McElroy. The Patriots put together a 17-2 run sparked by a Poindexter layup, pushing their lead out to double digits with a 47-32 lead with just over 10 minutes left to play. Radford cut the score to single digits using a 10-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Katherine Brockett. Moton broke the run hitting a bucket beyond the three-point arc handing the Patriots an eight point lead, 50-42, with 5:35 left in the game. Radford continued its strong shooting and took the lead on a pair of free throws, 53-52, with 3:51 on the clock.

Radford tied the contest at 56-56 at the 1:45 mark on a made free throw and took the lead on a McElroy layup at 1:19. A successful trip to the charity stripe gave the Highlanders a 61-56 lead with 45 seconds remaining in the game. RU finished the game with a pair of free throws from Wood for the final 63-56 score.

Mason returns to action with a pair of road contests at American and George Washington, December 2 and 5, respectively. Tip at American is slated for 7 p.m.