FAIRFAX, Va. - Clutch defensive rebounds and a pair of free throws by one of its senior leaders, followed by a huge defensive stop boosted the George Mason women's basketball team in a tough non-conference battle.

Sophomore Nicole Cardano-Hillary scored 24 points as the Patriots held off Colgate for a 64-61 victory on Sunday at EagleBank Arena. Mason (3-1) extended its non-conference home winning streak to 13 games thanks to some clutch play late.

With the Patriots clinging to a one-point lead, senior Jewel Triggs hauled in one of her career-high nine rebounds with 17 seconds left after a miss by the Raiders (0-3). Triggs drew a foul and sunk both of her free throws for a three-point cushion. Colgate missed a pair of shots on the next possession but still had a chance to tie with less than two seconds to go. 

But the Raiders never got the chance. After the inbound pass, Mason sophomore Marika Korpinen swarmed the ball and prevented Colgate from attempting a shot as time expired. 

"Good win for our team today," head coach Nyla Milleson said. "One of those wins where we really had to find a way down the stretch to make plays, get stops. We just have to find a little more consistency throughout the game, but early in the year we have some different people stepping into some new roles. I like what I am seeing."

Colgate trailed most of the way in a tightly contested game that featured eight ties and eight lead changes. But the Raiders took their first lead since the first period with 1:55 left on a jumper by Tegan Graham. The Patriots answered right back with a basket by Cardano-Hillary. Colgate also was quick to respond, jumping back in front on a layup by Mylah Chandler.

Sophomore Camarie Gatling gave the Patriots the lead for good, though, on the next possession. She muscled her way to a bucket, drawing a foul, and giving the Patriots a 62-61 advantage with 51 seconds remaining. That set up the final, frantic minute as the Raiders missed their last three shots.

Gatling finished with 12 points off the bench and junior Jacy Bolton notched her second consecutive double-double and third of her career with 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Cardano-Hillary, who scored more than 20 points for the fourth straight game, tied a career-high with seven rebounds and made 10 of 13 free throws. The Patriots won the rebounding battle 53-40 and had five players with at least seven rebounds. 

Mason now hits the road for the next four games, starting with a Thanksgiving trip to the Midwest this week. The Patriots will play at Kansas at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in Lawrence, Kan., and then play UMKC at 3 p.m. on Black Friday in Kansas City, Mo.