RICHMOND, Va. — George Mason (15-7, 10-1 Atlantic 10) faced a tough defeat against Richmond (20-4, 10-1 Atlantic 10), falling 71-57 at the Robins Center. Despite their defensive hustle, and winning the rebound battle 38-33, it wasn't enough to top the Spiders.
George Mason kicked off the game with determination, battling back from an early deficit through a series of pivotal plays. After Richmond sank an opening 3-pointer, the Patriots answered with steady offensive execution.
Zahirah Walton's jumper at 5:04 closed the gap, followed by her 3-point play at 3:49, tying the game at 10-10. As the first quarter progressed,
Mary Amoateng's jumper at 1:28 and her layup at 0:24 helped secure an 18-14 lead, thanks to her career-high 17 points and George Mason's effective rebounding and turnover capitalizing.
The Patriots shifted momentum midway through the second quarter when Amoateng's steal led to a fastbreak layup, reclaiming the lead at 2:19. Although faced with challenges, George Mason held strong in the paint, scoring six points from there, highlighted by
Jada Brown's early jumper assisted by Walton at 9:15. The Spiders rallied late, leveling the score at 28, ending the half tied.
The third quarter was challenging for George Mason. Walton started with a layup at 9:20 to even the score at 30-30, but Richmond responded with a scoring run, putting the Patriots on the defensive. Despite Walton's efforts, including a key steal and defensive rebound, Richmond extended their lead through free throws and 3-pointers.
In the final minutes of the third, Amoateng and
MJ Johnson hit jumpers, and
Kennedy Harris chipped in with a fast-break layup and free throw at 0:30, but the Patriots were down 50-40 by quarter's end.
George Mason mounted a spirited comeback in the fourth, with Harris knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers to trim Richmond's lead to 50-46. Despite valiant efforts, including a defensive block by Walton and a crucial 3-pointer by Amoateng at 1:01, the Patriots couldn't close the gap. The Spiders wrapped up the game with a 71-57 win.
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UP NEXT
The Patriots head to Dayton, Ohio to face the Flyers on Wednesday, February 11 at 11:30 a.m. A livestream will be available on ESPN+.
