FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team never trailed Saint Louis en route to a 91-61 win at home to match the best start to Atlantic 10 play since joining the league in 2013-14.
 
Reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Zahirah Walton led the Patriots with the second 20-point performance of her career, posting a game-high 21 points on 9-15 shooting while going 3-3 from the charity stripe to go with a career-high five steals.
 
The Patriots (13-3, 4-1) shot 50.8% from the field, marking the third-straight game they converted over half of their shots from the field.
 
It was all Mason from the get-go, as it won the opening tip-off and Paula Suárez scored the opening points just 10 seconds in on a driving layup. The Patriots held the Billikens scoreless over the opening four minutes to force a Saint Louis timeout leading 10-0. Mason held on to a 10-point lead throughout most of the quarter, closing out with four made free throws in the closing minute to lead 23-11 after the first.
 
Saint Louis scored the opening four points of the second stanza to cut the lead to single-digits, 23-15, but that would be the last time it would be within 10, as Mason responded with an 8-0 run of its' own to stretch the lead to 16 at the 6:45 mark. Walton led all scorers with eight points in the quarter as the Patriots went 7-8 from the free throw line to push the lead to 47-32 at the half.
 
The Patriots limited the Billikens to just four third-quarter field goals and no three-point attempts as they outscored the visitors 21-11 to increase their lead. Kennedy Harris hit Mason's second three-pointer of the quarter to push the lead to 27 with just under a minute remaining to cap a 7-0 run.
 
Taylor Jameson highlighted the fourth quarter with all 10 of her points in the final frame, including going 7-8 from the free throw line. The Patriots outscored the Billikens 23-18 in the fourth, as they won each quarter en route to the 30-point victory.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Five Patriots scored in double figures on Wednesday night as Sonia Smith (16), Kennedy Harris (14), Paula Suárez (13) and Taylor Jameson (10) joined Walton (21)
• The Patriots outrebounded the Billikens 37-33, led by six from Nekhu Mitchell
• Mason forced SLU into 21 turnovers, compared to their 14. The Patriots are 13-1 this season when committing less turnovers than their opponent
• Suárez had one of her most well-rounded games of the season, dishing out a team-high three assists and tallying two steals and four rebounds to go with her 13 points on 6-9 shooting
• Mason limited Saint Louis to just 38% from the field, including holding the third-ranked scorer in the conference, Kyla McMakin, to just 3-12 shooting

UP NEXT
After two weeks at home, Mason will get back on the road to UMass for a nationally televised game on Sunday, Jan. 21. Tip-off with the Minutewomen is set for 4 p.m.