FAIRFAX, Va. – A ferocious fourth quarter from senior
Marika Korpinen wasn't enough for the George Mason women's basketball team to pull out a win on the road.
Koprinen scored 10 of her career-high 21 points in the final quarter but the Patriots' comeback attempt fell short in a 61-57 loss to Davidson on Sunday afternoon at Belk Arena.
Down by as many as 14 (48-34), the Patriots pulled within one with 12 seconds remaining (58-57). After Davison made a pair of free throws to go up by three (60-57), Mason's final look at the basket was just short as the Wildcats held on for the victory.
The Patriots move to 3-6 overall, and 0-2 in conference play. The Wildcats won their sixth straight game to improve to 6-3 overall, and 3-0 in A-10 play.
Korpinen, whose previous career high was 20 points against Davidson a season ago, made a career-best seven field goals (.333). She went 5-of-6 from the free throw line and grabbed five rebounds in the all-around performance.
Graduate student
Daijah Jefferson added 11 rebounds and nine points (4-5 FG) while sophomore
Jordan Wakefield posted eight points and a career-high eight rebounds. Freshman
Taylor Jameson was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field for seven points.
The Patriots shot 42.3 percent from the floor (22-52) but committed 17 turnovers, including 11 in the second half. Mason was +14 on the glass (39-25) and scored 26 points in the paint.
Davidson finished with a mark of 39.3 percent from the field (22-56) and made eight 3-pointers (.381).
It was all Korpinen to start the game for the Patriots. She took five of Mason's first six shot attempts from the floor, recording four early points. Mason's defense then held Davidson scoreless for 5:16 minutes to lead 9-6. The 'Cats made a three-pointer with 16 seconds left to end their drought and tie the game after one quarter of play (9-9).
In the second quarter, Mason went 5-of-5 from the floor for a stretch of nearly three minutes to lead, 27-26. But, the Wildcats scored the final five points of the half to lead at the break, 31-27. The Patriots shot 53.3 percent from floor (8-15) in the frame and doubled their scoring output from the first quarter.
The Wildcats opened the third quarter on a 10-3 run to maintain their advantage at the media timeout (41-30). Mason committed eight turnovers and took just 10 shot attempts (.300) in the third period. Davidson went on to outscore Mason 20-12 to lead by a dozen with one quarter remaining (51-39).
Mason came out firing on all cylinders to begin the fourth quarter. The Patriots rattled off 10 straight points, including back-to-back three-pointers by Korpinen, to pull within two with 4:28 left (51-49). Davidson did not score until the 3:05 mark after a pair of free throws (53-49).
Back-to-back baskets by Wakefield and Jefferson cut the deficit to one with 1:07 left (56-55). The Wildcats made a layup (58-55) with 44 seconds on the clock, but Korpinen responded with a layup of her own with 12 seconds remaining (58-57).
With Davidson in front with nine seconds to go (60-57), Korpinen's last second shot was short as the 'Cats held on for the win, 61-57.
Mason returns home for a contest against Dayton on Friday night inside EagleBank Arena. Tip-off in Fairfax is scheduled for 6 p.m.
