WASHINGTON, D.C. – The George Mason women's basketball team outscored American 46-27 in the second half en route to a 72-62 victory, moving to 6-0 on the year. The start is the best in the program's 50-year history. 
 
The Patriots (6-0) were led by senior Sonia Smith, who finished with a season and game-high 18 points as five Patriots scored in double figures. She also pulled down a season-high eight rebounds and dished out a season and game-high six assists.
 
The Eagles (1-4) got off to a fast start, opening the game on a 6-0 run. Mason responded to get within one on a Ta'Viyanna Habib three-point play, but strong shooting from the hosts pushed them back ahead by five. Kennedy Harris checked in and hit her first points of the afternoon to cut the lead to 10-9, but American finished the quarter on a 7-2 run to lead by six.
 
Mason began chipping away in the second, as Sonia Smith scored eight points on 4-7 shooting. The teams traded points, but American consistently had an answer for Mason's points as the Eagles took a 35-26 lead into halftime. 
 
The Patriots came out firing in the third, forcing two American turnovers on their first two possessions. Mason got three-point makes from Paula Suárez and Kennedy Harris to get within one and force an Eagles timeout trailing 43-42. American pushed the lead back to eight and teams continued to traded points until Harris hit two free throws with three seconds remaining to cut the lead back to four, 53-49, with one quarter to go.
 
Suárez hit bookended a strong Mason start with two three-pointers as Mason took their first lead of the game, 60-59, with six minutes remaining. Mason fell back on its' signature stout defense to limit the Eagles to just nine points and 27% from the field, outscoring American 23-9 in the final stanza. Despite leading for just six minutes of the game, the Patriots remained strong down the stretch to remain undefeated on the season.

PATRIOT POINTS

• Nekhu Mitchell (11) and Paula Suárez (10) tallied season-high point totals as Suárez also poured in three threes in the second half to power the comeback
• Kennedy Harris (12) and Ta'Viyanna Habib (11) also tallied double-figures 
• Under the net, Jazmyn Doster pulled down a season and game-high nine rebounds to go with a career-high four steals
• Mason tallied 11 steals, forcing American into 21 turnovers. Nekhu Mitchell also tallied a career-high with three
• The Patriots played cleanly, giving up just eight free throw opportunities to the Eagles, a season-low
• Pushing the pace, Mason outscored American 17-0 in fast break points.

 
UP NEXT
After the holiday, Mason gets back on the road to Coppin State. Tip-off in Baltimore is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26.