FAIRFAX, Va. – In front of a season-high attendance, the George Mason women's basketball team erased a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime and down Davidson, 62-58.
 
Senior Nalani Kaysia matched her career-high of 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds for her second-straight double-double. She also contributed a block and a steal.
 
The Patriots (11-11, 4-5) struck first, but Davidson was able to get hot from there, shooting over 50% from the field, including 60% from three-point range, to build an eight-point lead after the first quarter, 17-9.
 
The Wildcats (11-10, 4-3) continued to push, leading by as many as 10 with 53 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Junior Taylor Jameson scored her first points of the afternoon with less than 30 seconds in the half to cut the lead to seven and give the Patriots momentum into the break.
 
Mason cut the lead down to three with the first four points of the third, but Davidson jumped back ahead by 10 with under five minutes. Another Jameson three-pointer brought the lead back down to single-digits at the media timeout, and the two teams traded points until the end of the quarter and the Wildcats led 43-36 with one stanza to go.
 
Led by stout defense and strong rebounding, the Patriots were able to limit Davidson to just 27% from the field and 0-4 from three-point range. Mason outrebounded the Wildcats 15-5 and did not allow any second-chance points. Senior Sonia Smith hit the go ahead three-pointer with 1:10 on the clock, but the two teams traded points to knot the score at 51. 
 
Davidson called timeout with three seconds remaining and had a chance to restart and take a shot, but graduate student J-Naya Ephraim locked down and was able to tip the inbound for her career-high fourth steal of the night and force overtime.
 
The Wildcats began overtime with a three-point play and one made free throw, but it was all Mason from there. The Patriots scored nine-straight points and drained four free throws to preserve their lead and secure the four-point victory.

PATRIOT POINTS

• Mason's overtime win is the first since Dec. 7, 2017 over LIU Brooklyn
• Kaysia's double-double is her fourth of the season, and she still remains the only Patriot to record one this season
• Jameson (16) and Smith (11) joined Kaysia in double-figure scoring
• Sophomore Paula Suárez dished out a career-high six assists for the second-straight game to go along with six points, three rebounds and a steal
• Mason outscored Davidson in the paint (28-22), on fast breaks (9-2) and on second chance points (10-4)

UP NEXT
Next week, Mason goes on the road twice, beginning with the Billikens on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Tip-off in Saint Louis is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT/12 p.m. ET (please note time difference).