PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The George Mason women's basketball team was led by a season-high 15 points from senior Sonia Smith, but an 11-point first half deficit was too much to overcome as the Patriots fell 63-45.
 
Smith's game-high 15 points is the first double-digit performance in the green and gold for the senior, and she also contributed a season-high seven rebounds.
 
Senior Nalani Kaysia made her first career start for Mason, posting a game-best 13 rebounds (6 OREB, 7 DREB) to go along with nine points, a block and an assist.
 
Both teams got off to a slow start, as the Panthers (2-0) led 11-8 after the first 10 minutes. Pitt was able to build on their lead as they took advantage of a few Patriot fouls and went 7-8 from the charity stripe in the second quarter and led 27-16 at the halftime break.
 
Smith and the Patriots (0-3) came out of the intermission shooting hot, as the senior went 2-2 to open the quarter with four points. Pitt responded to push its' lead to 38-20 and forced a Mason timeout, and the Patriots took advantage of the break, with sophomore Paula Suarez kicking off a 7-0 run with a three-pointer at the 7:04 mark.
 
Pitt scored five points to stop the run, but Mason responded once again, going on an 8-0 run capped by a steal and fast-break layup by freshman Nekhu Mitchell to cut the lead to just eight and force a Panther timeout with 2:30 remaining.
 
The teams traded points in the first part of the fourth quarter and a Taylor Jameson jumper brought the score to 51-41 at the media timeout. However, the Panthers came out swinging, closing the game on a 12-2 run to provide the final tally.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mitchell had the best game of her young career, posting six points, two rebounds and a steal off the bench.
• Defensively, graduate student Riley Childs matched her career-high of three blocks to go along with four points, two assists and a steal.
• The Patriots struggled at the free throw line, converting just five of their 12 chances.
• Kaysia's six offensive rebounds are the most by a Patriot so far this season.

 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will return to Fairfax to begin a three-game homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 16 against Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. in EagleBank Arena. Mason took down the Buccaneers exactly one year ago on Nov. 16, 2021, earning a 64-55 victory on the road.