FAIRFAX, Va. – Revolutionary Rival George Washington remains a thorn in the side of the George Mason women's basketball team.

The Patriots battled all the way back from an 11-point third-quarter deficit but couldn't get over the hump in a 65-61 loss to the Colonials on Wednesday night at EagleBank Arena. Mason has lost 12 straight to crosstown rival George Washington (12-11, 7-4 Atlantic 10).

The Patriots (18-7, 7-4) lost both games of the season series and have not picked up a win in the series since joining the Atlantic 10 five years ago. After winning their first 12 home games of the season, the Patriots have lost their last two.

Graduate student Natalie Butler posted her 24th straight double-double (and 50th of her career), which leads the country and is the fourth-longest streak in Division I women's basketball history, with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Freshman Nicole Cardaño-Hillary added 15 points, scoring 13 after halftime. Sophomore Sarah Kaminski chipped in 13 points.

Mason trailed 36-25 less than three minutes into the third quarter. Cardano-Hillary helped bringing the Patriots roaring back, scoring seven straight points in two minutes to pull within one. Freshman Camarie Gatling's free throw with 1:08 to go tied the game at 39-39.

But George Washington's Kelli Prange drove in for a layup as time expired in the third period to give the Colonials the lead for good. Prange sunk one of GW's 10 3-pointers on its first possession of the fourth quarter for a five-point lead as Mason played catchup the rest of the way. The Colonials shot 57.1 percent (8-of-14) in the fourth quarter, making four of five 3-pointers.

The Patriots twice cut the lead to a one-possession game immediately after but George Washington responded with a bucket each time. The lead ballooned to nine points before Mason made a late charge. The Patriots pulled within two points three times in the last 45 seconds of the game. But the Colonials again had answers, first with Brianna Cummings' crucial jumper in the lane with 28 seconds to go.

Mason had a chance to tie with less than 25 seconds remaining but an errant pass went out of bounds for a turnover. George Washington's Mei-Lyn Bautista made four consecutive free throws to seal the victory. The Colonials' Kelsi Mahoney led all scorers with 17 points, including five 3-pointers.

The Patriots won the rebounding battle 40-25 but shot just 38.8 percent from the field. George Washington also received 22 points from its bench compared to six by Mason's.

Mason looks to bounce back when it hosts Massachusetts at 2 p.m. on Sunday at EagleBank Arena.