Box Score WHO: Women's Basketball at Delaware
WHERE: Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, Del.
FINAL SCORE: Delaware 67, Mason 51
KEY PLAYERS: Kara Wright – 14 points; seven rebounds; Tiffany Padgett – 14 points, six rebounds

NEWARK, Del. – The George Mason women's basketball team showed some fight in its first road game of the season.

Unfortunately, Delaware pushed back.

The Patriots suffered a 67-51 loss to the Blue Hens on Sunday afternoon at Bob Carpenter Center. A quick burst to start the second half propelled Mason to a 12-point lead. But Delaware charged back, closing out the game on a 41-13 run to win its season opener.

The Blue Hens' post play proved to be too much as the forward trio of Sade Chatman (15 points), Nicole Enabosi (15) and Makeda Nicholas (10) combined for 40 points. Kara Wright and Tiffany Padgett both had 14 points for Mason (1-1), which was playing its second game in less than 48 hours.

"We learned lots of lessons today," head coach Nyla Milleson said. "We made a great run to take the lead to go into the half. I thought we made some great adjustments at halftime. We came out and really punched and punched hard, got it to 12 and then the wheels came off. Unfortunately, with a young team, that is sometimes going to happen. (Delaware's) post play destroyed it at the block. We didn't do a good job of getting around and guarding. We gave them too many easy shots."

Tip-off was delayed 12 minutes due to a malfunctioning shot clock. But the Patriots didn't let the delay affect them as Padgett scored the game's first five points to give Mason a 5-0 lead just a minute in.
The first half went back and forth with two ties and six lead changes. Delaware for most of the first half but the Patriots hung around. Freshman DeJah Willford-Kelley banked in a 3-pointer for her first career field goal as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first quarter, pulling Mason within three, 18-15.

The Blue Hens (1-0) pushed the lead to 24-17 less than three minutes into the second quarter. The Patriots methodically rallied back, starting what would be a 21-2 run that carried into the third quarter. A 3-pointer by freshman Jacy Bolton, a putback by sophomore Casey Davis, a jumper from Padgett and a 3-pointer by freshman Sarah Kaminski boosted Mason in front 27-26 at halftime.

The burst continued after halftime as the Patriots scored on four of their first five possessions. Kaminski opened the third period with another 3-pointer. After baskets from Bolton and Padgett, Wright converted back-to-back layups for a 38-26 lead with 6:27 to go in the third quarter.

That sparked a timeout from Delaware, which reasserted itself down low. After attempting just two free throws in the first half, UD was 13-of-18 from the line in the second half and get Mason's post players in foul trouble.

Delaware forwards Enabosi and Chatman combined for 11 points and Erika Brown added five points in the final 6:15 of the third period as the Blue Hens closed the quarter on a 20-5 run to regain the lead.
Heading into the fourth quarter with a 46-43 lead, Delaware scored the first three baskets in the period and didn't look back. The Patriots couldn't get any closer than seven points and struggled to score. They scored just eight points in the last 10 minutes, shooting 2-for-14 in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers also plagued Mason. After committing just five miscues in the first half, they turned the ball over 10 times. They finished the game with 15 turnovers, which Delaware converted into 18 points.
The Patriots shot just 31.6 percent from the field and only 29.2 percent from 3-point range. Bolton added a career-high nine points and six rebounds and Kaminski chipped in six points.

"You are not going to win too many ballgames when you shoot 2-of-14 in the fourth quarter," Milleson said. "Again, that is some youth, some inexperience. They got in that zone (defense) and we didn't do a very good job of attacking late. I thought we played a little bit safe when we got up. Very disappointed in the final score. Very disappointed in that last quarter and a half. But our memories are going to have to be short here because we have another quick turnaround for Tuesday night."

Mason stays on the road and heads further north to play its third game in five days to open the season. The Patriots meet LIU Brooklyn for the first time on the hardwood, playing the Blackbirds at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Brooklyn, N.Y.