BOX SCORE

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The George Mason women's basketball team started the season on a high note with a 72-61 victory over College of Charleston on Wednesday evening in Charleston, S.C. The Patriots won their season opener for the second straight year and improve to 3-1 all-time against the Cougars.

Junior guard Nicole Cardaño-Hillary picked up right where she left off in 2018-19, scoring 24 points and adding five steals in the victory. Fellow junior Camarie Gatling posted her fourth career double-double with a 12-point, 11-rebound outing. She went 5-for-7 from the floor while adding two blocks and two steals.

Coming off the bench, freshman Tamia Lawhorne exploded for 16 points and eight rebounds. The 6-foot forward tabbed nine points in a back-and-forth first half to lift the Patriots' offense. She finished 7-of-9 from the free throw line.

With Charleston leading 23-18 after the first period, Mason went on an 11-1 scoring run in the second quarter – taking the lead for the first time since the 2:54 minute-mark in the first. Cardaño-Hillary scored eight points during the stretch of play while the Patriots' defense held the Cougars to 2-of-17 from the floor.

Mason used the momentum out of the break, scoring six straight points to lead 43-34 in the third quarter. The Cougars managed to battle back and hold the Patriots to 1-of-11 from the field for the remainder of the period. With one quarter to play, Mason led by seven, 52-45.

In the fourth quarter the Patriots ignited for eight straight points to take their largest lead of the game, 63-49. The Green & Gold never looked back, cruising to the 72-61 season-opening victory.

The Patriots held the Cougars to 35.2 percent from the floor (25-71) and 11.8 percent from the 3-point range (2-17) in the game. Charleston's Latrice Perkins scored 26 points and added 13 rebounds to lead the Cougars.

Mason returns to Fairfax for its home opener on Sunday when the Patriots hosts ACC foe Virginia Tech at 2 p.m. at EagleBank Arena.