RICHMOND--Sandra Ngoie lit up Richmond for 29 points in her first career start with George Mason (6-12, 0-5 A-10) hitting six treys and snagging nine rebounds as the Patriots fell 67-64 in a heart breaker at Richmond (8-10, 2-3 A-10) on Wednesday afternoon.
As a team the Patriots outrebounded Richmond 45-41 including 18 offensive rebounds leading to 14 second chance points.
“I loved some of the things we did today,” head coach Nyla Milleson said. “We had so much energy, we had so much togetherness. We were really playing for each other. Unfortunately right now that's not equaling a win.”
Mason trailed 42-35 with 11:31 remaining when Ngoie would heat up from outside. The junior connected on three straight treys to knot the game at 46-46 with 7:09 to play. After a strong defensive stand by the Patriots, Ngoie would sink a layup to give Mason a 48-46 lead.
“Sandra gave me everything she had today,” Milleson said. “I think she saw today that she has to shoot the basketball no matter what. She's a shooter, she's a scorer and she's just got to do that.”
The Spiders regained the lead 52-50 with 1:20 left in regulation, but Ngoie connected from beyond the arc to put Mason up 53-52.
Fifth-year senior Janaa Pickard would go to the line and hit the first half of a one-and-one, putting the Green and Gold up 54-52 with :16 to play. However, Richmond's Genevieve Okoro would tie things at 54-54 with a jumper as time expired to force overtime
The Spiders and Patriots were tied with as little as 2:00 to go in overtime, however the Spiders would take a 67-64 lead with 13 seconds remaining. Ngoie would get two opportunities to tie things up from beyond the arc, but couldn't connect.
“I know [the team] is just really dissappointed,” Milleson said. “You put in that type of effort and you can't get over the hump and get the win. But it's a process and we just have to continue to work and continue to believe.”
Pickard was the only other Patriot in double figures with 10 points on the day while Taylor Brown was held under 10 for just the second time this season with eight points, six assists and three steals on the day.
“We had a lot of light bulbs come on today,” Milleson said. “We're going to have a game where everybody is 'on' on the same night and we'll get that A-10 win.”
The Patriots return home this weekend when the Revolutionary Rivalry is renewed as Mason hosts George Washington Saturday at 7:00 P.M.
