FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team ran into a three-point shooting buzzsaw on Sunday afternoon at EagleBank Arena.

Mason (2-1) fell to 24th-ranked Virginia Tech, 81-52, in its home opener.

Virginia Tech (3-0) made 13 three-pointers (.448), including nine in the first half (.529). The Hokies finished 47.8 percent from the floor overall (32-67) and were +18 on the glass (46-28).

Junior Jordan Wakefield led the Patriots once again on offense with a team-high 16 points, one shy of her career high. She shot 80.0 percent from three-point range (4-5 3FG) and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Junior Tamia Lawhorne added 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting (.556) to go along with two steals and two rebounds.

Mason shot 30.7 percent from the floor (16-52) and made eight three-pointers (.364). Mason received valuable minutes from its bench, outscoring the Hokies' bench 25-14.

Wakefield and Lawhorne knocked down a pair of three-pointers as Mason trailed by three early in the first quarter (11-8). The Hokies then went on a 10-0 run over 2:10 minutes (21-10). Mason was down by three to end the first period (21-13).

Mason pulled within five on two occasions in the second quarter, before Virginia Tech went on a 15-0 run to end the half (39-21).

Mason made four three-pointers in the first half (.444) and shot 33.3 percent from the floor overall (8-24 FG). Lawhorne chipped in eight of her 14 points on 3-of-3 shooting.

The Patriots would not get closer than 16 for the remainder of the game as Virginia Tech cruised to an 81-52 victory.

Senior J-Naya Ephraim earned her first career start in the Green & Gold. Redshirt senior Milica Manojlovic and redshirt sophomore Rachel Balzer made their season debuts after coming back from injury. 

Mason finishes out the month of November on the road, starting with a contest at Charleston Southern on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Charleston, S.C.