PRINCESS ANNE, Md. --The George Mason (4-2) women's basketball team dropped a 93-91 overtime heartbreaker at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (2-3) on Saturday afternoon in the W.P Hytche Center.  

“Our most important thing right now is to stay together,” said head coach Nyla Milleson. “I like our reaction in the locker room because we're really disappointed.”

The Patriots started things off strong with a 14-2 run over the first six minutes of play and would carry a 39-29 lead into the half behind 10 points from both Taylor Brown and Janaa Pickard. Brown led all scorers with 21 points and 11 assists in her first career double-double, and Pickard registered her third double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

“There are some positives, but this team isn't looking for moral victories or good things on a stat sheet on a loss,” Milleson said.  “We're not operating like that right now.”

Fouls once again plagued Mason with six Patriots playing much of the second half in foul trouble. The Hawks would take advantage of the absence of players such as Pickard and Sandra Ngoie, who contributed 12 points in the losing effort. Mason was outscored 46-36 in the second half to force overtime.

“Foul trouble was huge. Once we got into foul trouble,” Milleson said. “We had our three key players sitting on the bench for much of the second half.“

Mason was out-rebounded 59-48 on the night as UMES converted 28 offensive boards into 21 second-chance points.

“We've got two big issues right now with the biggest being on the defensive boards,” Milleson said. “Until we get that corrected it's going to be some long nights.”

The Patriots and Hawks kept it close in overtime with junior Talisha Watts leading the way with 11 points and four rebounds to record her third double-double of the season. Watts would end the night with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

George Mason looks to bounce back when it hosts Longwood, Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Patriot Center before embarking on a six-game road swing.