The Basics

• Score: George Mason 86, VCU 79
• Records: VCU (14-11, 5-7), George Mason (13-12, 5-7)
• Location: Patriot Center– Fairfax, Va.  
• Short Story: Despite a balanced attack with four players scoring in double figures and a second half rally, the VCU Women's Basketball fell to George Mason Saturday, 86-79.
  
   

How It Happened

• Both teams exchanged baskets in the opening minutes, but following a 12-all tie, the Patriots took a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
• George Mason found a hot spark to go on an 11-0 run, extending their lead, before Camille Calhoun connected on pair from the line to snap their run. Mason took a 51-24 advantage at the break after going 9-of-18 from 3-point range. Sandra Ngoie came off the bench to score 16 points, going 4-of-5 from long range, in just 11 minutes in the first half.
• In the second half, the Rams rallied back and started to chip away at Mason's lead with a 6-0 run sparked by a layup from Calhoun, but Kristi Mokube responded by hitting two from the line.
• A pair of back-to-back 3-pointers from Chadarryl Clay and one from Isis Thorpe put the Rams within 16, 73-57. Behind a put-back from Thorpe, VCU got within 11 with a little over two minutes left on the clock. Calhoun continued to close the gap to seven points with just seven seconds left. However it wasn't enough as the Patriots held on to secure the victory.

Quotable

• "I think it's a tale of two halves. Obviously we didn't start out very well, and they were really hot from the 3-point range. When a team does that you still have to continue to play hard." – Head Coach Beth O'Boyle
• Lookng ahead to George Washington: "They are a very athletic team and they do a great job on the glass as well. We have to make sure we are ready to box out for 40 minutes so we can put ourselves in a position to win." – Head Coach Beth O'Boyle

Beyond the Box Score

• This was the second time in 16 days the two teams played each other. The Rams defeated George Mason, 70-66 at the Siegel Center on Jan. 28.
• Melanie Royster now has 93 career blocks, sitting in 5^th place on the all-time list.
• Ashlee Mitchell made her third consecutive start for the Black & Gold.
• Adaeze Alaeze has scored in double figures in four of the last five games. The junior matched her season-best 17 points, for the third time this season.
• For the second time this season, Calhoun has scored a career-best 21 points. The first time the sophomore hit the mark was in the season opener.

Up Next

• VCU hosts No.20/21 George Washington on Wednesday (Feb. 18). The game is set for 7:00 p.m.