Fast Start Leads George Mason Past Women's Hoops, 66-55

AMHERST, Mass. - A 19-to-6 run spanning the first and second quarter proved the difference maker as George Mason handed the UMass women's basketball team a 66-55 loss on Sunday afternoon at the Mullins Center. The loss snapped six-game home win streak dating back to last season.

The game was an early Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. The loss drops UMass to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in A-10 play, while the Patriots improve to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Maggie Mulligan recorded her seventh consecutive double-double which leads the Atlantic 10 and the NCAA. She finished the game with 11 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high tying five blocked shots. Overall, the Minutewomen had four players in double-figures. Hailey Leidell had a team-best 16 points followed by Ryan 14 points. Leah McDerment also reached double figures with 11 points, while adding seven assists.

The Patriots were led by 22 points and 10 rebounds Kara Wright who was 12-of-13 from the free throw line. Jacy Bolton added 14 points, while Sarah Kaminski rounded out the top scorers for Mason with 13 points thanks to four three-pointers.

Mason closed the first quarter with a 9-to-2 run sparked by a pair of Kaminski three-pointers. They followed that with a 10-to-4 run to start the second quarter to build their lead to 25-13 with 7:06 left until halftime.

In the third quarter, the Patriots led by as many as 18 points, but the Minutewomen began to rally closing the period on a 8-to-2 run sparked by five points from Leidel.

That momentum carried over into the fourth with UMass using a 9-to-3 run thanks to early foul trouble on the Patriots. With 5:11 left in the quarter, UMass had cut the lead to six, 56-48, thanks in part to seven free throws.

Mason pushed the lead back to double-figures as Kara Wright hit four consecutive free throws after the Patriots were able to get stops on the defensive end.

Lediel was able to knock down a huge three-pointer with 1:26 remaining, but the Minutewomen lost Holder to her fifth foul of the game on the ensuing possession.

The Patriots were able to knock down six more free throws after that while forcing a pair of turnovers to hold off the Minutewomen for the win.

Overall for the game, UMass hit 18-of-53 shots from the floor including 4-of-13 from beyond the arc. George Mason was 21-of-59 from the floor hitting 8-of-22 three pointers. The Patriots scored 17 points off UMass turnovers, while the Minutewomen coverted six points on miscues by the Patriots.

UMass will return to action on Wednesday night at Hofstra as the Minutewomen return to non-conference play.

For complete coverage of the UMass women's basketball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassWBB and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.

Scoreboard

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Team Stats

Hailey Leidel

Ryan Holder

Leah McDerment

Maggie Mulligan

Players Mentioned

Hailey Leidel

Leah McDerment

Maggie Mulligan

Players Mentioned

Hailey Leidel

Leah McDerment

Maggie Mulligan

Scoreboard

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