Patriots Survive Ruff and St. Bonaventure to Advance to Richmond

FAIRFAX, V.A. — Throughout the 2017-18  season it has been all been about the newcomers for the George Mason women’s basketball team. In the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament though, it was one of the returners, Jacy Bolton that powered the Patriots to a 89-79 victory.

Behind a career-high 24 points (9-12 FG), the sophomore guard was the difference maker on the hardwood. Eleven of her points were recorded in the final quarter to close out the win. Shooting 5-7 from three-point range she out-shot the second-best deep ball team in the conference.

“It feels good to be back,” said Bolton. “I lost a little bit of confidence the past couple of games, but I watched our season highlights right before the game, right before I came to the gym. And I saw myself shooting threes and I was like ‘I know can do this’ and I am so glad I took the time to watch the three minute, four minute video.”

“In order for us to be aggressive at Richmond, she is going to have to play that way,” said Patriots head coach Nyla Milleson.

In potentially her last game at EagleBank Arena, Natalie Butler recorded her 30th straight double-double with 20 points and 19 rebounds. It was not her cleanest game, but considering she was double teamed every time she touched the ball, and almost taken out of the flow defensively, she weathered the storm.

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The win advances George Mason (23-8, 11-5 A10) to the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Up next is the No. 5 seed George Washington (16-13, 10-6 A10) who knocked off La Salle on the same night.

For St. Bonaventure (8-22, 3-13 A10), Mariah Ruff did all she could to keep the Bonnies season alive. She finished one point shy (30 points) of her career-high. At 5-9 she had her final curtain call in the fourth quarter with 12 points and 5-of-9 shooting.

Coming into the game as 34 percent shooters from deep, the team played a notch higher. They made 10 3pt-baskets shooting 42 percent from 3pt range.  However, they started making their first three deep ball attempts in the contest. They broke out to an 11-4 lead from the gate, but then never was able to get the lead back. Mason matched from 3pt-range with 42 percent.

An 8-0 run by Mason in the second quarter is what really broke open the scoring.

“Survive and advance. Its that time of year, we knew we were going to get St. Bonaventure’s best effort,” said Milleson. “Another goal down of getting to Richmond.”

As a team, the Bonnies gave up 18 offensive rebounds to the Patriots, resulting in 20 second chance points for Mason. Seven of those offensive boards came from the 6-5 Butler.

Two other players reached double-figures for Mason, Nicole Cardaño-Hillary (18 points) and Marika Korpinen (12 points off the bench). It was Korpinen’s career-high in points. In the first half, Cardaño-Hillary also pulled off one of the most impressive plays from the team this season.

YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME. Nicole Cardaño-Hillary with the play of the year for @MasonWBB. pic.twitter.com/UN43uAQRCB

— Mason Cable Sports (@MasonBroadcasts) February 28, 2018

Known for her quickness, the 5-7 freshman got her lone steal of the contest, went down the court and put up a behind-the-back reverse layup and drew a foul.

In one play it encompassed all that Cardaño-Hillary can do for this basketball team.

Another accolade from Butler is that she is now sitting at 509 total boards. She becomes only the eighth player in women’s Division I history to break the 500 plateau this season.

“Its great to have individual things, but the most important thing for me right now is team wins. There’s nothing that can top that. The way I see it, I just want to win ball games,” said Butler.

As the Green Machine will say, ‘no sleep until Richmond.’

BRACKETOLOGY PROJECTION FOR GEORGE MASON