Fordham FU 7-14,2-8 Atlantic 10

George Mason GMU 17-3,8-1 Atlantic 10

Fordham FU

7-14,2-8 Atlantic 10

Final

Jan. 31, 2024

George Mason GMU

17-3,8-1 Atlantic 10

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Fordham FU	13	12	8	14	47
George Mason GMU	13	11	19	11	54

Box Score

Rafael Suanes/George Mason Univ.

Patriots Push Win Streak to Seven with Gritty Win Over Rams

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 1/31/2024 11:13:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. – For the first time since 1994, the George Mason women's basketball team has won seven-straight games. The Patriots downed Fordham, 54-47, at EagleBank Arena on Wednesday night.

Sonia Smith (15) and Ta'Viyanna Habib (13) led the way offensively, scoring 28 of the team's 54 points and hitting all six of the Patriots' (17-3, 8-1) three pointers. Smith also had a team high four assists while Habib contributed four rebounds, an assist and a steal.

The first half was an evenly matched defensive battle, with both teams hitting just 10 shots in the opening 20 minutes. With the game tied at 13-all after the first quarter, Fordham started the second on an 8-2 run to take its' largest lead of the game at 21-15. Mason would slowly get back into the game however, led by five points from Smith, as it cut the lead to one (25-24) at halftime.

It was all Mason to open the third quarter, as Habib and Smith went 3-for-3 from deep to pull ahead by eight at the 7:26 mark. The Rams (7-14, 2-8) hit a free throw to stop the run, but Smith and Jazmyn Doster hit back-to-back shots to push the lead into double-figures for the first time. The teams traded shots in the second half of the third, but another Smith jumper gave the Patriots a 10-point lead (43-33) entering the final stanza.

The Rams opened the fourth with an early layup, but Habib responded with her third three-pointer of the night to push the lead back to 11. Nekhu Mitchell followed it up with a fast break play to stretch the lead to 13 with 7:51 remaining. However, it would be Mason's last field goal of the game, as the hosts relied on strong defense and perfect free throw shooting down the stretch to preserve the victory.

PATRIOT POINTS

The Patriots edged the Rams in rebounding, 39-37, led by Nekhu Mitchell's season and game-high nine
Paula Suárez tallied a career-high four steals as Mason forced Fordham into 18 turnovers
Mason shot above .800 from the free throw line for the fourth straight game, going 10-12 from the charity strip, led by a perfect 6-6 from Taylor Jameson
Jazmyn Doster tallied a season-high eight points to go with seven rebounds and a block

UP NEXT
The Patriots will head to the Windy City on Saturday, Feb. 3 for a matchup with Loyola Chicago. Tip-off with the Ramblers is set for 2 p.m.

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