FAIRFAX, Va. – After trailing by as many as 20, the George Mason women's basketball team pulled within three with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, before eventually falling to Howard 86-75 on Saturday afternoon in EagleBank Arena. The Patriots drop to 5-6 overall while the Bison earn their fourth straight win.

Junior Camarie Gatling posted her sixth career double-double with a career-high 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds. She finished 8-of-13 (.616) from the field and added eight of her 11 rebounds on the offensive end of the floor.

With 18 points, junior Nicole Cardaño-Hillary surpassed 1,400 career points to now sit eighth in Mason's all-time scoring. She added six rebounds, five assists and three steals in an all-around performance for the Patriots.

The Patriots held a +12 advantage on the glass (49-37), including a +17 edge in offensive rebounds (27-10). But, the Bison shot a scorching 51.7 percent (31-60) from the field and 47.4 percent (9-19) from deep to claim the victory. Both teams struggled from the free throw line, with Mason converting on only half of its attempts (15-30).

Howard started the game 3-of-5 from the field to take an early 8-3 lead with 7:31 remaining. The Patriots' three points all came from Gatling. Howard's first three-pointer of the game extended its advantage with 5:51 to go (12-3). The Patriots went 5-of-6 from the floor to finish the quarter on an 11-5 run. Cardaño-Hillary made her last three field goals of the period to cut the deficit to six (25-19).

Mason opened the second quarter with a scoring drought of 3:23 minutes, committing three turnovers during the stretch (29-20). At the media timeout, the Patriots trailed by 10 with 4:18 to go (32-22). Mason finished the quarter making just one of 11 field goals while Howard converted on five of its final six attempts (42-27). Mason was held to 11.8 percent (2-17) from the field and 0-of-5 from deep in the second quarter. Howard continued its sharp shooting in the period, going 7-of-15 (.467) from the floor and 3-of-5 from behind the arc.

The Patriots allowed 42 points at the half – the most given up by Mason this season. Gatling and Cardaño-Hillary led the Patriots with eight points apiece while Howard's Jayla Thornton went a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from three-point range for 16 points.

Out of the break, Sarah Kaminski hit two three-pointers to cut the deficit to 16 with under eight minutes remaining (49-33). Mason then came alive offensively, slowing chipping away at Howard's lead. The Patriots ended the third quarter on a 14-6 run, including eight straight points, to trail by nine (63-54). Freshman Jordan Wakefield knocked down the first trey of her career during the 8-0 spurt. The Patriots finished the period 5-of-7 from deep (.714) and 10-of-17 from the floor (.588).

Sophomore Devyn Wilson made a quick find of senior Jacy Bolton under the basket with 6:06 remaining in the game (70-61). The Patriots' defense forced three turnovers to hold the Bison scoreless for over three minutes (71-67). An 8-0 run, capped off by an Alexsis Grate basket, made it a one-possession game with under five minutes remaining (72-69). Howard quickly responded with a three-point field goal, followed by two quick baskets in the paint (79-69). The Bison sunk four of its final five field goals to escape with the win, 86-75.

Mason takes a week-long holiday break before wrapping up non-conference play at Delaware (Dec. 29) and at SMU (Dec. 31).