St. Bonaventure SBUW 7-20, 2-12 A-10

George Mason MASON 21-7, 10-4 A-10

St. Bonaventure SBUW

7-20, 2-12 A-10

Final

Feb. 18, 2018

George Mason MASON

21-7, 10-4 A-10

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
St. Bonaventure SBUW	6	19	20	18	63
George Mason MASON	20	13	25	20	78

Box Score

Patriots Tie Single-Season School Record for Wins with Victory Over St. Bonaventure

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/18/2018 5:47:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. - Led by a three-prong scoring attack, this George Mason women's basketball team played itself into the record books.

The Patriots pulled away from St. Bonaventure for a 78-63 victory on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,545 at EagleBank Arena. Mason (21-7, 10-4 Atlantic 10) tied the school record for wins in a season with their 21st victory. This is the fifth time the Patriots have won 21 games, the last time coming in 2000-01.

Graduate student Natalie Butler led the way with her nation-leading 27th straight double-double, scoring 23 points and grabbing 24 rebounds. Freshman point guard Nicole Cardano-Hillary scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half to go along with four assists and three steals. Senior Tayler Dodson chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds.

The Patriots, who head to first-place Dayton on Wednesday, also recorded their 10th A-10 win of the season. It marks their most league wins since 2003-04 and just the seventh time in program history they've had 10 or more conference wins in a season.

"Really good win for our team today," head coach Nyla Milleson said. "No. 21 is a big milestone for this team and this program and it was really on the backs of our two senior warriors (Dodson and Butler). They're playing extremely focused, they're displaying an extreme amount of leadership, doing the things they need to do, so we're excited with where we are at but it's back to business again tomorrow. We know what we got ahead of us with Dayton on Wednesday night."

Mason, which wore pink uniforms to raise breast cancer awareness for its annual Pink Game, led from start to finish. The Patriots shot 66.7 percent (8 of 12) in the first quarter and led 20-6 by the start of the second period.

The lead ballooned to 18 points in the second half. But St. Bonaventure (7-20, 2-12) made 11 3-pointers to hang around, pulling within nine twice in the last three-plus minutes. Mason made six of its last 10 free throws, though, to seal the victory and sweep the season series against the Bonnies.

The Patriots shot 48.1 percent from the field and 79.2 percent (19 of 24) from the free-throw line. Mason also won the rebounding battle 46-25 and outscored St. Bonaventure 28-16 in the paint.

Butler, who was 11 of 12 from the free-throw line, scored 20 points or more for the 10th time this season. It was also the second time she has had more than 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game despite often seeing double and triple teams from the opposing defense.

"They are going to collapse in the post," Butler said. "Just to be able to develop that chemistry, having the diver, having the opposite 3-pointer open. We are going to punish with the outside shot [if they choose to double team]. We are doing a better job at it, and I have to be mindful of turnovers and continue to protect the ball, but I guarantee we are going to work on that in practice."

Mason will now hit the road to play Dayton, which clinched at least a share of the conference regular-season title on Sunday, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio, for the final road game of the regular season.

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