FAIRFAX--George Mason women's basketball held the Atlantic 10 leading Duquesne to just 35% from the field but could not overcome a 26 turnovers in Wednesday night's 64-45 loss to the Dukes.
“This team is not going to quit,” said head coach Nyla Milleson. “It's hurting right now, it's hurting right now. The losses are mounting. We feel like there are so many things that we're getting better at, but we're playing very good teams and right now they're just better than we are.
The Patriots changed things up with their 10th different starting lineup of the season, including two freshman with Danisha Petty-Evans and Brittany Jackson who made her first career start. The change brought some positive results as the Patriots pulled in front taking a 10-4 lead.
I thought we came out with great energy, “ Milleson said. “We're not really focusing on whose starting, it's all about who can get it done.”
The Dukes would rally back with a 10-0 run of their own, taking a 14-10 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the half and would hold on from there leading 33-25 at the break.
The second half would be much of the same, however on the night the Mason outrebounded the Dukes 42-40 accomplishing one of the Patriots major goals on the night. But the Patriots would also give up 27 points off 26 turnovers and register just two second chance points.
“The tale of the game tonight was turnovers,” Milleson said. “We outrebounded, held them to one of 16 from the three and 35-percent from the field so once again, there are positives but our negatives are outweighing our positives.”
The Patriots also outscored the Dukes 16-4 on fast break opportunities and got 29 bench points compared to Duquesne's seven.
Fifth-year senior Janaa Pickard was the lone Patriot in double figures with 12 points to accompany six rebounds and two blocks. Kyana Jacobs contributed eight points in the loss in addition to three assists, six rebounds and two steals.
It does not get any easier for the Patriots who return to the road to face another one-loss conference foe in Dayton, Saturday at 6:00 P.M.
