WHO: Women's Basketball vs. Norfolk State
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
FINAL SCORE: Mason 60, Norfolk State 33
KEY PLAYERS: Kara Wright – eight points, six assists; Tiffany Padgett – seven points, six rebounds; Tayler Dodson – seven points

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team unleashed a defensive effort that was one for the record books.

The Patriots suffocated Norfolk State for a 60-33 victory on Monday night at EagleBank Arena. Thirty-three points are the fewest Mason has allowed since defeating UNC Wilmington 53-28 at the then-Patriot Center more than 25 years ago on Jan. 12, 1991.

Mason held Norfolk State to just 14 field goals on 25.5 percent shooting. The Spartans trailed 25-16 at halftime and sputtered for just three points in the third quarter. The Patriots also forced 22 turnovers, scoring 23 points off the miscues. It also marked Mason's largest margin of victory over a non-conference opponent since a 97-62 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) exactly three years ago on Nov. 21, 2013. 

"We definitely played great defense, holding them to 33 points," senior guard Sylvia Maxwell said. "We just stayed together. That is our thing – make them believe. And we're on that path."

The Patriots (3-2) led from start to finish, jumping out to an 8-0 lead less than three minutes in. Norfolk State (1-3) pulled within four a couple minutes later but wouldn't get any closer the rest of the way.

Mason led by 13 late in the second quarter and took a 25-16 advantage into halftime. In the third quarter, though, the Patriots' defense put the game out of reach. Norfolk State scored just one basket over 10 minutes. Over the final 5:38 of the period, the Spartans scored just one point, missed five shots and turned the ball over six times.

Mason, meanwhile, scored 20 points in the quarter, shaking off a sluggish first half. In the opening 20 minutes, Mason shot just 36.7 percent and made just four baskets in the second quarter to let the Spartans hang around. After the break, though, the Patriots came out sinking shots. In the third quarter, they shot 70 percent from the field (7-for-10) as seven players scored in the period.

For the game, Mason shot 40 percent. All 13 players scored for the Patriots, with everyone playing at least six minutes and 12 players logging nine minutes or more.

"Well, it was a little on the ugly side," head coach Nyla Milleson said. "But I thought a really good team effort and we got lots of people some valuable minutes that is going to pay off down the road. I was really disappointed in that first half. Really what got us beat against Arizona – if we're at the rim, we've got to finish. I don't know if we're not focusing or not taking enough off of it or what… We're going to have to play better (against Stephen F. Austin). But, again, a good win for us. And I really like the growth of our young kids."

The Patriots got 33 points from their bench, dominated in the paint (32-16) and controlled the boards (48-35). No Mason player scored in double figures but it didn't matter as the scoring was spread out across the board.

Senior Kara Wright, who played just three quarters, had a team-high eight points and dished out a career-high six assists to go along with three rebounds and a steal. Fellow senior Tiffany Padgett added seven points on 3-for-3 shooting and grabbed six boards. Junior Tayler Dodson came off the bench and scored seven points.

Freshman point guard Sarah Kaminski and freshman forward Allie McCool each set career highs with six rebounds. Maxwell, in her first year after transferring from Niagara, set a Mason career-high with three steals. The team finished with 10 or more steals for the second straight game after nabbing a season-high 14 against Arizona on Friday.

"Tonight's a great night for everybody to get into the scorebook," Milleson said. "It has been a long time coming in our three years of building this program that we are able to get 13 players in and really pretty good minutes. I'm really pleased. It was sloppy at some places. But, again, I'm going to take this win."

The Patriots will wrap up a three-game homestand and a busy opening two weeks of the season on Wednesday. Mason welcomes in Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at EagleBank Arena for the team's sixth game in the last 13 days. After the Thanksgiving eve matchup, the Patriots will have their longest layoff of the season so far, not playing again until Sunday when they travel to nearby Towson – the first of five straight road games.