HARRISONBURG, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team fell to in-state foe James Madison on Sunday afternoon inside Atlantic Union Bank Center.
The first-half hole proved too large to overcome as the Patriots dropped their final road non-conference test, 89-70.
Four Patriots finished in double figures as Mason continues its balanced scoring attack.
Junior
Devyn Wilson had a breakout performance, recording career highs in points (15), field goals made (5) and free throws made (5). She added five rebounds and two steals in the loss.
Senior
Marika Korpinen chipped in 15 points and four assists. It marked the 21st double-digit scoring performance of her career, and fourth of the season.
Sophomore
Jordan Wakefield tied her career-high in points (12), going 5-of-13 from the field.
Graduate student
Daijah Jefferson notched her fourth straight double-digit scoring performance with 10 points and added a team-high eight rebounds.
The Patriots shot 36.6 percent from the field (26-71) and made eight three-point field goals (.364). Mason was +11 in bench points (36-25) and held the advantage on the glass (40-36).
The Dukes shot 53.7 percent from the field (36-67) and made nine three-pointers (.360). JMU outscored Mason 22-4 in fast break points.
JMU used a pair of 6-0 runs to take a 19-10 lead with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter. A pair of free throws by Jefferson brought Mason within seven (21-14) with 50 seconds on the clock. The Dukes hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to extend its advantage to 11 (26-15).
Mason pulled within seven with 6:44 to go in the second quarter after a three-pointer by
Rachel Balzer (28-21). But that would be as close as the Patriots would get as they trailed by 23 at the break (51-28).
At the half, Mason's offense was held to 25.7 percent from the floor (9-35). The Patriots made five of their eight three-pointers (.417) in the opening half of play.
The Patriots went on to outscore the Dukes 44-38 in the second half; but the first-half hole proved too large to overcome as Mason fell 89-70.
