RICHMOND, Va. – For just the fifth time in program history, the George Mason women's basketball team has collected at least 20 wins in a season.
Strengthened by both strong shooting and stifling defense, the Patriots pulled away from VCU for a 65-42 victory on Thursday afternoon at the Siegel Center. Mason (20-7, 9-4 Atlantic 10) recorded its first 20-win season in 17 years. The Patriots also clinched a winning season in league play for the first time since 2003-04 when they were still in the Colonial Athletic Association. The nine league wins are also their most conference wins in 14 years.
With the win, the Patriots will host a first-round matchup of the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship at 7 p.m. on Feb. 27 at EagleBank Arena. They currently sit in fourth-place in the A-10 standings with three games remaining.
Mason shot 47.8 percent (its third highest clip of the season) and held VCU to just 25 percent shooting (17 of 68). The 42 points allowed are the second-fewest the Patriots have ever surrendered in an A-10 game. It is also the fewest points they have ever given up in an A-10 road game and fewest in a league road tilt since Feb. 10, 2008 when still in the CAA. Mason last allowed 42 points or less in any road game - non-conference or conference - on Dec. 21, 2008.
Freshman guard
Nicole Cardaño-Hillary scored 19 points, sophomore
Sarah Kaminski added 12 and graduate student
Natalie Butler posted her 12 points and 11 rebounds for her 26th straight double-double, which leads the country. Senior
Tayler Dodson chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Mason shot 47.8 percent (its third highest clip of the season) from the field and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line. The Patriots also held VCU to 25 percent shooting (17 of 68). The Rams scored less than 10 points in two quarters, including only four in the second quarter.
The Patriots took advantage with a 16-4 run in the period, jumping in front for good. Redshirt junior
Camden Musgrave's 3-pointer with more than minute to go in the half gave Mason a 31-20 lead at the break. The lead never dipped below than 10 points in the second half.
Mason returns home to play St. Bonaventure at 2 p.m. on Sunday at EagleBank Arena for the annual Pink Game. The Patriots will honor breast cancer survivors before and during the game and will wear pink uniforms.
