Fairfax, Va (Dec. 21) --- Delaware State 'Lady Hornets' fall to the George Mason 'Patriots' 69-46, Monday night. The Lady Hornets' record drops to 1-2 on the season.
The Patriots jumped out to a 14-4 run capped off by a three-pointer from Rachel Balzer with 2:06 in the first quarter. DSU cut the deficit in half with a pair of baskets from sophomore guard
Naomi Shorts, as she buried a three-pointer and then hit a midrange jumper on back-to-back possessions.
Shorts finished the game with a career high 12 points, she shot 4-of-10 from the field, including two made three-pointers.
George Mason scored the next ten points to take a 20-9 advantage with 9:44 remaining in the first half. The Lady Hornets cut the deficit to single digits after their point guard
Janasia Law found
Zoe Holmes, open under the basket, for a layup. DSU would shrink the Patriots' lead to seven after two made free throws by
Sharajah Collins with 8:05 left in the half.
The Patriots would take full control soon after, as they went on a 14-2 run, capped off by a jumper from Vanessa Laumbach just before the first half buzzer sounded. DSU trailed 34-15 heading into halftime.
For the second straight game the Lady Hornets' offense struggles in the first half, as they shot just 20.0% from the field.
The deficit rose to as high as 24 points with 6:30 left in the third quarter. The Lady Hornets never got any closer than 16 points for the rest of the contest. DSU shot better in the second half as they scored 31 points in the final two quarters, but it was not enough.
Delaware State made 18-of-64 field goal attempts (28.1%) and just 4-of-21 (19.0%) on their three-point attempts. They went 6-of-7 (85.7%) from the free throw line.
Sharajah Collins had seven points, while
Alexis Moragne and
Ashley Primas added six points each.
George Mason shot 21-of-55 (38.2%) from the field, including making 6-of-19 (31.6%) three-pointers. They also shot 21-of-27 (77.8%) from the free throw line. The Patriots had three players in double figures, Rachel Balzer led the way with a game high 16 points.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. George Mason outrebounded Delaware State 51-31.
2. The Patriots had a 21-6 free throw advantage.
3. The Lady Hornets shot just 20.0% from the field in the first half.
STINGERS
Ashley Primas played in her first contest for the Lady Hornets, after the NCAA approved all transfer waivers for the 20-21 season. Primas spent her first two collegiate seasons with Tennessee State University.
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets will play host in their final non-conference game of the season, as they take on Old DominIon University on December 29
th. Tip-off starts at 1:00 P.M.
