FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team fell to the defending Atlantic 10 Champions, Fordham, 66-54 on Sunday afternoon inside EagleBank Arena.
Mason finished with a 31.5 percent (17-54) mark from the field and made 6-of-17 three-point attempts (.353). Fordham shot 41.8 percent (23-55) from the floor and made 11 three-point field goals (.423).
"Fordham is very physical and disciplined basketball team," said head coach Nyla Milleson. "In order to have a chance against them, we had to match their toughness and physicality. There were spots where we did, but when you shoot 19.2 percent in the first half, you're not going to be in many ballgames. We'll step back on the practice floor and do everything we can to get better."
Junior Nicole Cardaño-Hillary led Mason with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. She scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half, going 8-of-9 from the charity stripe. Fellow junior Camarie Gatling added 12 of her 13 points in the second half, shooting 6-of-9 from the field in the stanza.
It was a slow start for the Patriots as they scored their first points of the game at the 6:14-minute mark of the first quarter. Three-pointers from seniors Jacy Bolton and Sarah Kaminski cut Mason's deficit to two at the media timeout (8-6). Fordham shot 42.9 percent (6-14) from the floor to lead 14-9 after one quarter of play.
Sophomore Devyn Wilson checked in and scored Mason's first basket of the second quarter with 6:46 on the clock (16-12). Mason went without a field goal for the final four minutes of period to trail by 13 at the break (26-17). Bolton led Mason at the half with six points (2-2 3FG).
The Patriots struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 19.2 percent (5-26) from the field. Four of their five field goals came from behind the arc (.444). On the other end, Fordham shot 33.3 percent (10-30) from the floor and 25.0 percent (4-16) from deep. The Rams were +5 on the glass (24-19) and outscored Mason in the paint (8-0).
Out of the break, Fordham went an 11-0 run to take their largest lead of the game with six minutes left in the third quarter (40-21). The Rams were a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the arc during the stretch.
The Patriots pulled within 12 with under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter (52-40), but could not complete the comeback (66-54). Mason drops to 7-11 overall and 1-4 in Atlantic 10 play.
Up next, the Patriots travel to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne Wednesday at 7 p.m. at La Roche University's Kerr Fitness Center.
