DAYTON, Ohio — George Mason (16-7, 11-1 Atlantic 10) came out on top against Dayton (13-12, 6-8 Atlantic 10) with a decisive 72-61 victory, fueled by
Jada Brown's career-high 20 points and 6 three-pointers.
The game tipped off with George Mason's defense setting the tone, forcing several turnovers from Dayton.
Zahirah Walton's steal and fast-break layup at 8:08 tied the game early, highlighting the Green & Gold's knack for turning defense into offense. Despite a few missed chances,
Kennedy Harris kept the Patriots in the hunt with a three-pointer at 7:36, thanks to a sharp assist from
Hawa Komara, giving them a brief lead. However, the Flyers quickly answered back with a scoring run to pull ahead.
George Mason stayed in the mix, bolstered by
Mary Amoateng's clutch free throws at 1:36, which trimmed the gap. As the first quarter wound down,
Page Greenburg's offensive rebound and buzzer-beater jumper brought the Patriots within striking distance, closing the quarter at 18-14.
The Patriots took charge in the second quarter with a barrage of successful 3-pointers, led by
Jada Brown's two long-range shots. Walton's layup in the paint at 0:41 further extended their lead. Smart ball movement and strong defensive rebounding, particularly from Komara, who grabbed 12 boards, maintained their momentum. George Mason headed into halftime leading 35-27.
George Mason dominated early in the third quarter, sparked by Brown's crucial three-pointers, widening their lead over the Flyers. Harris added to the surge with a layup and a converted free throw at 7:35, pushing their run to 11–0 and setting the tone for the quarter. Despite Dayton's efforts to rally with a couple of three-pointers, the Patriots held firm with solid defensive plays, including Walton's key steals in the final minute, securing a 14-point lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, George Mason solidified their hold with pivotal early plays. Amoateng drained a critical three-pointer at 7:06, assisted by Harris, followed by a smooth jump shot to widen their lead. Despite a few turnovers, the Green & Gold kept their cool with strong free-throw shooting, including two successful attempts by Amoateng with 41 seconds left. The defense stepped up with multiple steals, cutting down the Flyers' scoring chances. George Mason sealed the game with a commanding 72-61 win.
PATRIOT POINTS
UP NEXT
The Patriots return home for a packed weekend: On Saturday, they face the undefeated Rhode Island Rams at 3 p.m. and on Monday, they host a rematch with the Richmond Spiders at 4 p.m.
