BALTIMORE, Md. – The George Mason women's basketball team improved to 2-0 with a down-to-the-wire win over Loyola (Md.) on Friday morning at Reitz Arena in Baltimore, Md.
After leading by as many as 10 points (44-34), the Patriots staved off a late comeback by the Greyhounds to secure their second straight win, 53-51.
Mason gave up a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter and trailed by four with 2:18 remaining (51-47) before finishing the contest on a 6-0 run.
In a game where Mason dominated the glass (+11), junior
Jazmyn Doster grabbed the offensive board and converted the game-winning putback with five seconds remaining. Loyola's three-point attempt at the buzzer was no good.
Mason shot 31.6 percent from the floor (18-57) and 12.5 percent from three-point range (2-16). The Patriots made 15-of-21 free throw attempts (.714) and outrebounded the Greyhounds, 46-35.
Loyola finished 17-of-54 from the floor (.315) and made four three-pointers (.267).
Doster recorded her third career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. She went 4-of-9 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
Senior
Amaya Scott added 14 points and nine rebounds while junior
Jordan Wakefield recorded 13 points and five rebounds.
To open the game, Mason scored six straight points to force a Loyola timeout (8-2). The Patriots led 15-11 at the end of the first quarter behind 7-of-16 shooting from the field (.438). Scott scored six of her 14 points in the frame.
Mason pushed its lead to eight after a jumper by Wakefield in the second quarter (25-17). Mason then went on a scoring drought of nearly five minutes before Doster scored a layup at the end of the first half (27-21).
Coming out of the break, the Greyhounds pulled within one with 3:35 to go in the third quarter (32-31). Mason then came alive offensively, finishing the period on a 12-2 run to take its largest lead of the game (44-34).
Loyola came out in the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run to take its first lead of the contest (46-44). A Wakefield three-pointer ended the run, but the Greyhounds answered with five straight points (51-47).
Mason would finish the game on a 6-0 run, holding Loyola scoreless for the final two minutes. Scott scored four straight points to tie the game with 36 seconds remaining (51-51). Then, Doster scored the game-winning putback with five seconds on the clock (53-51).
Up next, Mason opens the home portion of its 2021-22 schedule against No. 24 Virginia Tech on Sunday. Tip-off is schedule for noon at EagleBank Arena.
