FAIRFAX, VA- You don’t often find players and coaches smiling in a post-game press conference, especially after a 19-point loss at home. But it’s difficult to feel discouraged after today’s performance from George Mason who fell a bit short today against Virginia Tech, 77-58. The Patriots fall to 1-1 on the season, while the Hokies improve to 2-0.
Virginia Tech opened the game with a 5-0 spurt, and from the looks of things after the first quarter, Mason was in for a long afternoon. Down 18-7 after 10 minutes, already dealing with Camarie Gatling in foul trouble, and going the final 3:34 of the quarter without a point, George Mason regrouped. The Patriots outscored Virginia Tech 13-2 through the first five minutes of the second quarter, highlighted by Jazmyn Doster scoring her first career points, pulling the Patriots to within four, 24-20 with 4:33 left in the half.
2Q U5 | VA Tech 24 Mason 20.
This bucket from Jazmyn Doster has Mason within FOUR, outscoring the Hokies 13-6 in the second quarter! #GetPatriotic pic.twitter.com/YeH3JikmZB— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) November 10, 2019
The Hokies responded with a 10-3 run, to take a 12 point lead late in the half, before two late Jacy Bolton free throws pulled the Patriots to within 10 at the half.
Honestly, down 10 at the half isn’t bad for Mason. They got down 18-7 after one, and it looked like Virginia Tech was going to run away with this game. But they hung in there, got within four, weathered the late Hokie run and this game is within reach at the half. #GetPatriotic
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) November 10, 2019
Oh, and bonus points for attempting to troll Virginia Tech before the start of the third quarter…
EagleBank Arena playing "Enter Sandman" before the second half against Virginia Tech is quite the song choice. #GetPatriotic @GMUGiantKiller
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) November 10, 2019
The third quarter began with just one basket through the first 3:46, a three from Aisha Sheppard before Mason would finally get on the board with a Jacy Bolton lay-in. Still, George Mason very much struggled in the third, getting doubled-up, 20-10 in scoring, digging a 20-point hole after 30 minutes of play.
Trailing 58-38 with 10 minutes remaining, George Mason rattled off a 10-3 run of their own, pulling as close as 13, then trailing 63-50 on a Marika Korpinen bucket with 6:31 left. Virginia Tech then closed the game by outscoring Mason 14-8 in the final minutes.
True, Mason had their chances, and this game was without a doubt a heck of a lot closer than the final score reflects. Nicole Cardaño-Hillary did not have a great game, as she only had 2 points until the final four minutes of the game, finishing with 6 points total. She, as well as Camarie Gatling battled foul trouble throughout, finishing with 4 fouls each. Devyn Wilson did not have a great game either, as she did not score, and recorded two boards in her 7:36 of playing time, despite starting. Beyond that, there were a lot of positives for the green and gold.
Jacy Bolton lead the Patriots with 12 points and five rebounds, including a couple of big threes when the game was still in reach. Alexsis Grate also had 12 points, along with 3 assists, while freshman Tamia Lawhorne had 8 points and three boards in a very strong showing. Though Coach Milleson said “we’re not into moral victories at this point of the year,” George Mason did hold Virginia Tech freshman Elizabeth Kitley, who scored 27-points in her collegiate debut earlier in the week, to just 6 points tonight, and was essentially a non-factor overall. True, a bit of a moral victory, but when I brought this up in the post-game press conference, it did elicit this reaction from Nyla Milleson and Jacy Bolton:
Good to see some smiles after a tough afternoon.
All in all, a good learning experience for Mason moving forward. Virginia Tech is by no means going to finish 10th place in the ACC, and this game will only help Mason down the line. Yes, it would’ve been nice if the score was a little closer, but you can’t fault the effort, especially in the second and fourth quarters.
I said it in a tweet, during the game…
This sounds dumb to say, but this George Mason team is so much better when they hit shots- that is to say, this team is right there, they just need their shots to fall and they could go places. #GetPatriotic
— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) November 10, 2019
I sent that during the fourth quarter, and it’s true. This team is so skilled in so many department and they have a lot of talent, they just need to get some shots to fall, and they will. Mason shot 20% and 21% from the field in the first and third quarters and got out-scored collectively 38-17. In the second and fourth quarter, Mason shot 41% and 53%, and actually out-scored Virginia Tech, 41-39. You play a complete 40 minutes and get some more points out of Nikki and Gatling, and you’ve got a recipe for success, hands down.
George Mason will next face Detriot Mercy on Saturday November 16th at 12:00 at EagleBank Arena. You’re already going to be at EBA for the men’s game that night against JMU at 7:00, so why not come on out, hit up both games and make a day of it!
Also stay tuned to a post-game recap and highlight video coming shortly on GiantKiller.co
UPDATE:
Post-Game & Highlight Video:
