LYNCHBURG, Va. - The George Mason lacrosse team exploded in the second half to roll past Liberty, 20-9, in its first road game of the 2012 season Wednesday afternoon. After playing a tight first half, the Patriots outscored the Flames 12-2 in the final period to pick up the win.

Mason (2-5) was led in scoring by Emily Ellisen with four goals and two assists, while also picking up three draw controls and two caused turnovers. Caitlin Formato and Rachel Obregon each completed hat tricks, while Allie Hilderbrandt, Mary Schwartz and Anna Kopecka each scored twice for Mason. Schwartz finished the game with a career-high four assists, two ground balls, two draw controls and one caused turnover. Kiersten Jauschnegg recorded a game- and career-high six caused turnovers as Brittany Pastrana picked up the win in cage, playing 39:48 and recording two saves. Katie Teague played just over 20 minutes in cage, recording three saves.

For the Flames (1-5), Kristin Crowley and Nina Dunay led offensively each with four goals as Morgan Becker capped the scoring. Crowley finished the game with eight draw controls, while four different players each recorded three caused turnovers.

The non-conference foes played through a back-and-forth opening period with Mason carrying a narrow 8-7 lead into intermission. The Patriots opened the scoring with the first two goals before Crowley and Dunay bookended a Kopecka goal at 20:53 with a pair of goals for a 3-2 Mason lead. Ellisen sparked a 3-0 run over a four minute period highlighted by Andrea Mustacchio and Mackenzie Jones' first goals as Patriots to grab a 6-2 lead before Liberty answered scoring five of the next seven goals to close the period.

The teams traded goals to open the second half before the Patriots posted a 2-0 run when Formato finished a Schwartz feed and Obregon scored unassisted at 23:02 for an 11-8 Mason lead. Dunay scored Liberty's final goal of the afternoon at 20:12 on a free position attempt as Mason held the Flames scoreless over the final 20 minutes and scored nine unanswered goals for the 20-9 triumph. Ellisen and Obregon each scored twice in the 9-0 run, while Laura Lesky picked up her first collegiate career goal.

Mason won the edge in shots (35-17), ground balls (27-24), draw controls (16-15) and converted 5-of-7 free position attempts. This marks the second time this season Ellisen has scored four goals with the first coming against Saint Francis in the season-opener.