FAIRFAX, Va. – Three Cougars scored double-digits, two hitting rebound career highs, but the College of Charleston women's basketball team closed out 2018 with a 66-52 road loss at George Mason on New Year's Eve.
Both teams started cold from the field,
Baileigh Larson scoring the first points for The College as the clock shot wound down midway through the first quarter.
George Mason used a 9-0 run to build an 11-2 lead;
Lexi Maddox making a jumper to get Charleston's second basket of the day with three minutes left in the first.
Charleston's intensity increased in the second quarter, a series of free throws and a
Latrice Perkins rebound and layup cutting into the Patriots lead.
The Cougars forced three turnovers in the opening three minutes of the second to force a George Mason timeout. The teams exchanging baskets until Charleston used a 7-0 run to again cut into the lead,
Darien Huff's steal, layup and free throw the highlight.
Charleston forced the 11
th Patriots turnover of the game as the half entered the final seconds,
Madison Taylor finishing in the paint to cut the George Mason lead to 35-26 at half-time.
Huff knocked down a three to open the third quarter, the Patriots again responding with their own from beyond the arc.
Back-to-back 6-0 runs by the Patriots, coupled with a Charleston scoring drought, opened the hosts lead back to 19, Perkins finding
Deja Ford under the basket to halt the slide.
The Cougars used an 8-2 run to open the fourth quarter, Taylor hitting Charleston's second three-pointer of the afternoon to make it a 13-point game.
Tyler Collins then finished a tough layup in the paint with the Patriots calling a timeout after going scoreless for three straight minutes.
Ford hit 10 points with a three in front of the Charleston (4-7) bench, the teams exchanging baskets down the stretch with George Mason (8-5) taking the 66-52 victory.
The Cougars now look to the Colonial Athletic Association opener on Jan. 4 at UNCW. Tip is set for 11:30 a.m. in Wilmington, N.C., with the game broadcast live on the CAA Network.
Notables
•
Darien Huff,
Deja Ford and
Madison Taylor all hit double scoring digits.
•
Madison Taylor grabbed a career high 7 rebounds.
•
Bri Sullivan tied her career high 10 rebounds.
• Charleston finished at 20% from deep and 56% from the free throw line.
