FAIRFAX, Va. - Freshman Nicole Cardaño-Hillary drove in for a game-tying layup with 11 seconds left in regulation to force overtime as the George Mason women's basketball team survived after surrendering a double-digit lead.
Graduate student Natalie Butler made the go-ahead free throws with 19 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Patriots to a 73-70 victory over LIU Brooklyn on Thursday night at EagleBank Arena. Mason (8-2), which has won eight of nine and is off to its best start in 14 years, held on despite letting a 16-point second half lead evaporate.
Butler recorded 24 points and 19 rebounds for her ninth straight double-double, Cardaño-Hillary added 23 points and fellow freshman Camarie Gatling had a career-high 14 points and personal-best 11 rebounds off the bench for her first career double-double.
The Patriots stayed unbeaten at home this season as they're off to a 6-0 start at EagleBank Arena. Dating back to last season's regular-season finale, they've won seven straight for their longest home winning streak in eight years.
The Patriots led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter and held a 57-43 advantage with 5:46 left in regulation. But the Blackbirds (3-5) came storming back with a 17-2 run. Freshman Jeydah Johnson drained a 3-pointer to give LIU Brooklyn its first lead of the game, 60-59, with 49 seconds to go.
After both teams missed a pair of free throws on consecutive possessions, Mason had one last chance to tie or go-ahead. Trailing 61-59, Cardaño-Hillary drove in the lane and laid in a bucket off the right side of the backboard with 11 seconds left. Her layup was the Patriot's first basket from the field in more than five minutes. On the ensuing possession, Johnson's potential game-winning 3-pointer bounced off the side of the rim as time expired to send the game to overtime.
The Patriots, playing in their first overtime game of the season, scored the first points of the extra period. The Blackbirds fired right back, scoring six straight points. Johnson sunk her eighth 3-pointer, setting an EagleBank Arena record for most 3-pointers in a game, for a 67-66 lead with 1:50 left. Cardaño-Hillary hit a go-ahead layup on the other end with a minute left as Mason never trailed after that.
Tied 68-68, Butler drew a foul inside and made both free throws with 19 seconds left. Johnson, who had a game-high 27 points, missed a game-tying jumper. Gatling grabbed the defensive rebound and, after a timeout, Cardaño-Hillary drew a foul and made the game-clinching free throws with nine seconds left.
Butler and Cardaño-Hillary each notched their fifth 20-point plus game and had three assists apiece. Both players have scored in double figures in every game this season. Butler shot 9 of 13 from the field and 6 of 10 at the line. Cardaño-Hillary made a career-high nine free throws (out of 17 attempts) and nabbed four steals. Gatling was 6 of 7 from the field in 19 minutes off the bench.
Mason prevailed despite committing 21 turnovers, shooting just 1 of 18 from 3-point range and making only 20 of 38 free throws (52.6 percent). The Patriots were again strong on the boards, outrebounding LIU Brooklyn 56-33. Mason grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, which it turned into 15 second-chance points. The Patriots also dominated inside, outscoring the Blackbirds 38-14 in the paint. They also forced 17 turnovers and collected 11 steals.
Mason returns to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, welcoming in Eastern Kentucky for the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team. The Mason men will play North Carolina Central at 4 p.m.
