WHO: Women's Basketball at Davidson
WHERE: Belk Arena - Davidson, N.C.
FINAL SCORE: Davidson 68, Mason 63
RECORDS: Mason (9-14, 4-6 A-10); Davidson (10-13, 4-6 A-10)
KEY PLAYERS: Kara Wright 13 points; Tiffany Padgett 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists

BOX SCORE (HTML)

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The George Mason women's basketball team made the shots needed for a comeback attempt on the road.

The Patriots just couldn't get defensive stops when it was most necessary.

Davidson shot 66.7 percent in the fourth quarter and kept Mason at arm's length as the Patriots suffered a 68-63 loss Wednesday night in their first visit to Davidson and Belk Arena.

On seven occasions in the final quarter Mason pulled within three or two, only to be answered with a basket by the Wildcats. Davidson also dominated the boards, with a 44-36 edge and 16 offensive rebounds.

“We must be mentally and physically tougher on the road,” head coach Nyla Milleson said. “We are not rebounding the ball well and I was disappointed with our lack of defensive focus tonight.”

The Patriots (9-14, 4-6 Atlantic 10) did not quit after Davidson took a 65-58 lead with 2:50 remaining.

Mason forced three turnovers, all resulting in points from Taylor Brown. The senior manufactured a steal and layup with 32 seconds left to pull the Patriots with 65-63. Then Davidson's Hannah Early made just one of two free throws to leave the door open. But Brown's driving layup with 15 seconds was blocked and the Wildcats' Dakota Dukes sunk two free throws to seal the victory.

The Patriots led by as many as eight points in the second quarter, buoyed by a combined 13 points from freshmen Chinyere Bell and Jewel Triggs in the first half. With 1:51 left in the first half, Kristi Mokube hit a layup to extend Mason's lead to 30-23. But Davidson scored seven straight points in less than 45 seconds to tie the game, 30-30, at halftime.

The Wildcats continued the surge in the second half, scoring the first four points to take the lead. But the Patriots stayed close, eventually going back in front, 43-42, on a jumper by Mokube with 1:53 left. But the lead was short-lived. Davidson's Diona Johnson made a layup on the very next possession. The Wildcats wouldn't relinquish the lead after that. They took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter after Mokube's putback layup at the buzzer was reviewed and waved off.

Kara Wright led the Patriots with 13 points and Brown, Tiffany Padgett and North Carolina native Chinyere Bell each had 12 points. Padgett also added eight rebounds and a career-high four assists.

Brown achieved another personal milestone, moving into fourth on the program's all-time scoring chart. She surpassed Nickie Hilton (1,564, 1990-94) and now has 1,572 points in her three years at Mason.

Mackenzie Latt led all scorers with 18 points in addition to a career-high 19 rebounds as four players scored in double figures for the Wildcats (10-13, 4-6).

The Patriots return home to host St. Joseph's at 2 p.m. on Sunday at EagleBank Arena in the Pink Game, which will raise breast cancer awareness.