A strong second half was not enough for George Mason women's basketball team to overcome a cold start in Saturday's 112-86 loss at VCU.
The Patriots turned the ball over seven times before converting a basket Saturday afternoon at VCU and trailed 18-0 at the first media timeout. Redshirt sophomore Taylor Brown would break Mason's scoring drought sinking three treys in a little over a minute of play.
“We didn't handle the first eight minutes of play very well,” head coach Nyla Milleson said. “We came out and they punched us pretty hard and we didn't respond.”
Mason would finish the half 10-19 from beyond the arc, but would trail by as much as 32 last in the first half and they would trail 67-40 at the break.
“I'm proud of the way we responded,” Milleson said. “We won the second half, but a lot of positives.”
The Patriots came out refreshed for the second half and outscored the Rams 46-45 and turned the ball over just six times while causing 11 VCU turnovers.
On the game, Mason hit a season-high 15 treys shooting 47% from beyond the arc and tying a school record set in 2004 against Hofstra. Junior Sandra Ngoie led the way with 21 points followed by Brown with 16, senior Janaa Pickard with 13 and Cierra Strickland with 12.
“I thought our three freshman played very well today, a lot to draw on,” Milleson said.
The Patriots three freshman combined for 14 points. Six points apiece from Brittney Jackson and Danisha Petty-Evans while Char-Dell Dunnigan contributed two in her first game back from injury. Dunnigan. Petty-Evans led all Patriots with seven rebounds on the game.
The Patriots have struggled coming out of halftime recently, so Milleson and her staff brought the team out early to get loose and run through some extra drills before play resumed.
“We did some different things today and I thought it helped so we're going to continue” Milleson said. “That's what this year is all about. Figuring out the chemistry of this team, we finished the half much better and started the second half better. I don't feel like I'm coaching a six win team. They're playing hard and trying to do what we ask them to do.”
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