Redshirt junior Taylor Brown led all scorers with 23 points and freshman guard Cydni Cole registered 10 points in 20 minutes, but the George Mason women's basketball team fell short at home in a 79-70 loss to Morehead State Sunday for the Patriots first loss of the young season.
“This team came off of a big, emotional win Friday night with a quick turnaround and I'm not sure we're quite ready to handle that yet,” head coach Nyla Milleson said.
After falling behind early in the first half, the Patriots rallied to lead by as much as four. However the Patriots cold-opening half proved to be the deciding factor in the end as Mason was held to 28.9 percent from the field and 9.1 percent from beyond the arc in the first half allowing the Eagles to take the lead for good with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half. MSU would head into the break with a 36-27 lead and three players in double-figures.
“A sign of a great team is they have the maturity is the ability to rise above in any situation,” Milleson said. “I just thought we were flat all day. But we're going to have to regroup because we turn right back around and play again Wednesday.”
The Patriots came out stronger in the second half, matching the Eagles point for point as each side thanks Cole who would register all 10 of her points in 15 minutes of play after intermission. Senior Sandra Ngoie also heated up in the final 20 minutes of action. After going 0-8 in the first half, Ngoie lit it up hitting 4-of-6 from three for all 12 of her points. Brown played all 40 minutes of the game and spent the majority of the second half playing with an inexperienced lineup.
“I thought Cydni came out and really gave us a lot of energy, I was very proud of all the freshmen they did some good things today,” Milleson said. “But, to have Taylor Brown and three freshman carry us at the end of the game isn't what you want right now. The returners have to play better if this team wants to reach our goals.”
Brown and Cole each accounted for three steals with senior Talisha Watts and freshman Qierra Murray snagging two more each. Brown also led the way on the board with eight followed by Ngoie and freshman Tayler Dodson with six each.
The Patriots will get the opportunity to bounce back Wednesday when they host Delaware State at 7 p.m. at the Patriot Center.
