DAYTON, Ohio – The George Mason women's basketball team bounced back into the win column on Sunday afternoon, downing Dayton, 74-50, for its' first win on the road in program history.
 
Zahirah Walton posted a game-high 19 points and team-high eight rebounds to go with three steals, two assists and a block in a comprehensive outing. 
 
The Flyers (10-14, 4-9) had its' best quarter of the day to open the game, building a 15-10 lead over the first eight minutes. Mason stayed the course however, scoring the final five points on a Paula Suárez three-pointer and two Walton free throws to tie the game at 15-all at the break.
 
Walton scored the opening four points for the Patriots (19-4, 10-2) to force a Dayton timeout at the 8:20 mark of the second. Over the next 5:12, Mason outscored the Flyers 13-2 while forcing five turnovers to push the lead into double-figures for the first time (30-19) with three minutes remaining in the half. The teams traded points down the stretch, and Ta'Viyanna Habib beat the buzzer with a three-pointer to give Mason a nine-point lead at halftime.
 
Six Patriots scored a point in the third quarter as the Patriots extended their lead to 12. The fourth quarter was all Mason, as the visitors doubled up Dayton in the final stanza. The Patriots opened the quarter on a 10-2 run, led by eight points from Walton, to push the lead to 20 at the 6:31 mark.  A Taylor Jameson and-one play with 1:14 remaining in the game to extend the lead to as many as 28 and Mason cruised to the 74-50 lead.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• All 10 Patriots scored at least two points, with four tallying double-figures. Zahirah Walton (19), Sonia Smith (13), Paula Suárez (10) and Ta'Viyanna Habib (10) all contributed 10+
• Taylor Jameson had a comprehensive day, tallying a career-high four steals with eight points, four assists and three rebounds 
• Mason forced Dayton into 24 turnovers with 14 steals, converting those miscues into 25 points
• Smith pacced the offense with five assists, her fourth time this season with 5+
• The Patriots shot a strong 44% (27-61) from the field and 86% (12-14) from the free throw line

 
UP NEXT
Mason will wrap up its' short two-game road trip with a contest at Davidson on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The Patriots will look to sweep the Wildcats in the home-home series after downing Davidson in Fairfax on Jan. 10, 79-41.