WHO: Women's Basketball vs. VCU
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
FINAL SCORE: Mason 70, VCU 59
KEY PLAYERS: Jacy Bolton – 14 points, 10 rebounds; Kara Wright – 14 points, nine rebounds; Tiffany Padgett – 11 points; Sarah Kaminski – nine points; Tayler Dodson – seven assists

FAIRFAX, Va. – A pair of freshmen carried the load in the first half before George Mason's senior leaders took over after halftime.

Strong individual performances and a season-high nine 3-pointers added up to a 70-59 victory for the Patriots over VCU on Sunday afternoon at EagleBank Arena.

Freshmen Jacy Bolton and Sarah Kaminski combined for 25 points and six 3-pointers before halftime. Then seniors Kara Wright and Tiffany Padgett totaled 23 points in the second half. Junior Tayler Dodson also tied a career high with seven assists as Mason (10-9, 3-3 Atlantic 10) snapped a three-game losing streak.

Bolton notched her first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. The 6-foot shooting guard had 13 points, a career-high three 3-pointers and six rebounds in the first half. Kaminski added nine points – on three 3-pointers – all in the first half.

After halftime, Wright took over, shaking off a slow start in the first half. She scored eight points in the third quarter and finished 8-for-8 at the free-throw line. Padgett scored 11 of her points in the fourth quarter. She matched a career high with two 3-pointers and twice delivered big baskets to stymie a VCU comeback.

Mason led for most of the game and took a 10-point lead with 7:57 remaining on the first of two 3-pointers by Padgett. But the Rams (9-10, 2-4) didn't go away, twice pulling within five. Padgett answered with a layup off an assist from Dodson and then drained a 3-pointer for an eight-point lead with 5:05 to go.

The Rams still hung around, though, cutting the deficit to 63-59 with 1:49 to go on a jumper by Mooriah Rowser. The Patriots stood tall, answering the call at the free-throw line as they converted seven of eight foul shots and kept VCU scoreless the rest of the way.

Mason was 17 for 23 from the free-throw line, including a 10-of-12 effort in the second half. The Patriots shot 40.7 percent from the field while holding VCU to just 30.7 percent shooting. Beyond the arc, Mason had its best game of the season, sinking nine 3-pointers and shooting 45 percent – both season highs. The Rams were just 1-of-12 (8.3 percent) from beyond the arc. Led by Padgett, Mason outscored VCU's bench 22-13.

The Patriots now hit the road for a two-game swing. They'll play Davidson at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Davidson, N.C., before wrapping up the trip with a 5 p.m. tip-off against in-state rival Richmond on Sunday in a game televised on American Sports Network.