Lady Patriots Almost Pull Upset of ODU

By Connect Mason Sports Director Damien Sordelett

An errant pass that almost hit Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry in the second half was about the only thing that went wrong for the Monarchs Thursday night.

That was before the clock hit five minutes to go.

Despite Lateisha Wade’s first career double-double, the George Mason Lady Patriots (8-13, 2-8 CAA) used a game-ending 16-4 run to make the No.13/14th Old Dominion Monarchs sweat a bit before falling 71-61 before 617 at the Patriot Center.

Megan Pym and T.J. Jordan each scored 14 points as the Monarchs built a 22-point second half lead and weathered the final Patriot run that saw the lead drop to as low as eight.

Wade registered game-highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jessica Smith scored 12 and Casey Quigley added 11 for the Patriots.

With 4:45 remaining, Moni Akintunde hit a field goal that reduced the ODU lead to 20. That shot spearheaded a 14-0 run to close the gap to eight, 67-59 with just under one minute remaining. Following four ODU free throws, Quigley hit a jumper with seven seconds remaining to account for the final points.

I"m real pleased with our second half. I wish we could have played the first half that way," George Mason coach Debbie Taneyhill said. "That was definitely the difference for us offensively in the second half, we got some points in the paint. In the first half, we did not. Certainly, that is something we are going to take away and be pleased with."

The Patriots got a big lift from the inside, outscoring the Monarchs in the paint 28-to-16. That also includes only allowing nine offensive rebounds and just 12 second chance points, a far better number than what Mason gave up four days earlier to Virginia Commonwealth.

"Not just post defense. I'm just going to tell you that it was a tale of two halves and George Mason certainly outplayed us in the second half. We got real complacent," Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry said. "The most disappointing statistic for us is our offensive rebounds and stick back points. That's something that we have been living with and we just didn't have that tonight."

There were several instances early in the second half when George Mason would get as close as 13, but Old Dominion would get a big 3-pointer from either Jen Nuzzo or Jazzmin Walters. As a team, the Monarchs hit 9-of-24 from beyond the arc, including 6-of-14 in the second half.

The Patriots heated up the cold February night by shooting 61.5 percent in the second half, a big reason for the late comeback. That, along with improved defensive play, is a reason why the Patriots are no longer the cellar dwellers of

"We are starting to get in a good spot with our offense and our defense," Taneyhill said. "We have to have some confidence in that effort and make sure that we prepare and work with the same intensity regardless of who we play."