FAIRFAX, Va. – A career night for George Mason women's basketball graduate forward
Daijah Jefferson was not enough as the Patriots suffered a 72-62 loss to St. Bonaventure on Friday night in EagleBank Arena.
Jefferson registered her third career double-double, scoring a career-high 25 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds. It marked the most points scored in a game by a Patriot this season.
The six-foot-three forward from Hopewell, Va., shot 9-of-25 from the floor and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. She also matched her season-high two blocks. By halftime, she had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Jefferson grabbed 10 rebounds for her fifth double-digit rebounding performance. It also marked the seventh time she's led the team in boards this season.
Redshirt freshman
Rachel Balzer was the only other Patriot to finish in double figures. She ignited for four three-pointers (4-6 3FG) and finished with 15 points.
St. Bonaventure made 10 three-pointers (.400) and shot 46.6 percent from the floor overall (27-58). Mason drops to 1-10 when its opponent makes 7-or-more three-point field goals. The Patriots have allowed their last six opponents to register 7-or-more three-pointers.
Mason shot 33.3 percent from the floor (21-63) and made eight three-point field goals (.348).
The Patriots used an 8-0 to take their first lead of the game at the media timeout (8-6). The Bonnies then responded with seven straight points to hold a 15-12 lead after the first quarter. Mason was +6 in boards but committed six turnovers in the opening frame.
Bona extended their lead to eight to force a Mason timeout with eight minutes left in the second quarter (22-14). A pair of three-pointers by Mason cut the deficit to five (25-20). The Bonnies took their largest lead of the half with 3:31 on the clock (37-25). Mason ended the half on a 7-2 run to trail by seven at the break (39-32). Jefferson had nine points on 3-of-6 shooting in the quarter.
Mason cut the deficit to six after a Balzer three-pointer to start the third quarter (41-35). But, the Bonnies then went on a 7-0 run to lead by 15 with under two minutes remaining (56-41). After back-to-back Mason buckets, the Patriots trailed by 11 with one quarter to go (56-45).
The Patriots cut the deficit to single digits on three occasions in the fourth quarter, but a late 8-0 run by the Bonnies put the game out of reach. St. Bonaventure held on for the 72-62 win as the Patriots fall to 0-11 in A-10 play and 3-15 overall.
Up next, Mason hosts Duquesne on Sunday for its #Play4Kay Pink Game, presented by Sentara. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside EBA.
