Feb. 7, 2008

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Senior Lateisha Wade recorded her first career double-double, pouring in game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the George Mason women's basketball team, but the Patriots could not overcome 13th-ranked Old Dominion as the Lady Monarchs outlasted a spirited Mason squad, 71-61, in Colonial Athletic Association action on Thursday evening at Patriot Center.

Mason fell to 8-13, 2-8 in the CAA, as the Patriots could not stop the Lady Monarchs (19-3, 10-0), who remained undefeated in the conference while winning their 12th-straight game. The 10-point margin of victory, though, was the second-smallest by ODU in the conference this season.

ODU scored the first four points of the game, but a Wade three put the Patriots within one as 115 seconds had elapsed in the game. However, an 11-0 Lady Monarch run spanning just 1:42, expanded the lead to 15-3. Eley ended the run with the second Mason basket, also a 3-pointer. The ODU lead grew as large as 13 points, before four Patriot points cut the gap to single digits at 21-12. Again, the Lady Monarchs scoring came in bunches, with nine in a row to take a 30-12 lead. Four more Mason points put the Patriots within 14 at 30-16, but ODU closed the half on a 9-4 run to take a 39-20 lead into the locker room.

Outscored by a 5-2 margin out of the break, the Patriots called timeout to regroup. The strategy worked, as Mason netted eight points in a row to cut the gap to 13 at 44-31. The Patriot run was ended by Jen Nuzzo, who drained a three at the 12:45 mark. From there, the teams engaged in a fierce shootout for the next few minutes, swapping baskets as both teams' inconsistent field goal shooting gave way to a much more uptempo game. Mason continued battling ODU throughout, creeping within 10 points with 90 seconds left on a pair of Akintunde free throws. After a technical foul, Wade sank a pair of free throws to cut the gap to eight, but could not complete the unique four-point play, as she missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity.

The 10-point differential was the smallest between these two teams since Mar. 13, 2004, when they battled for the Colonial Athletic Association title. ODU won that game, 85-81.

The Patriots are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Delaware to face the Fightin' Blue Hens for a 1 p.m. tip.