George Mason University Athletics

George Washington Stages Comeback Win Over George Mason, 67-58

Women's Basketball Downs Norfolk State, 72-45

George Mason Athletics Women's Basketball 12/29/2010 9:51:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. – In the second consecutive game, George Mason witnessed a player post a double-double as Brittany Poindexter recorded her first of the season leading the Patriots to a 72-45 victory over Norfolk State Wednesday night in the Patriot Center. Poindexter was one of three Patriots to post double-figure scoring numbers in the win that pushed Mason to 6-5 on the season, extending the current win streak to four games. Norfolk State dropped to 5-4 to close out 2010.

Mason shot 45.6 percent from the field led by Amber Easter with a game-high 19 points. Taleia Moton followed with 15 points, 11 coming in the first half, and Poindexter rounded out the double digits with 13 points. The Patriots won the edge on glass 42-36 led by 10 rebounds from Poindexter who also added four assists as Mason recorded 16 in the contest.

The Spartans were held to 29.4 percent shooting with only one player reaching double figures in Whitney Long with 16. Three Spartans pulled down a team-high six rebounds.

Norfolk State tightened its defense to start the second half, but Mason broke through and maintained its comfortable lead. Marian Brooks went to the line six times in the first six minutes, connecting on half, but the Patriots shot 48.0 percent through the third media timeout to hold a 61-34 advantage. Mason took four trips to the free throw line from the third to final media timeout, draining four as the Patriots finished the contest going 14-of-22 at the charity stripe in the second half and 16-of-27 for the game. Easter scored four of the final five Patriot points as Mason took away a 72-45 final score.

Both teams struggled to open the first half as Mason picked up baskets from Moton and Easter to climb out with a 5-0 lead, but went scoreless over the next four minutes allowing Norfolk State to take a 6-5 lead. Easter snapped the drought and sparked a 10-3 Mason run, drawing the score to a 15-9 Patriot advantage. The Spartans cut the score to five points, 19-14, on a basket from Long at the 7:39 mark, but a Long trip to the free throw line at 6:46 would be Norfolk State's last successful effort from the floor until a Carlon Chambers trip to the charity stripe with :53 to play. Mason, meanwhile, used the 4:54 minutes of play to put together a 15-0 run and a double-digit lead, climbing out with a 39-19 lead to take away at the break.

Mason had two Patriots in double figures within the first twenty minutes as Moton led all scorers with 11 points and Easter added 10 to Mason's commanding lead. The Patriots led on the boards, 21-14, led by Poindexter with six. Mason shot 53.1 percent from the floor in the first half and 60.0 percent from three-point range as Easter was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Norfolk State was held to 25.0 shooting in the opening frame.

Mason closes out this five-game homestand and opens Colonial Athletic Association play welcoming Georgia State on January 2, 2011. Tip in the Patriot Center is slated for 12 noon and the game will be televised on Comcast.

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