Sports In A Minute

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The women’s basketball team could not build off their momentum from last Sunday’s victory as they fell to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks 69-40. Mason had only two players in double figures as they were led by junior guard Rashuana Hobbs with 14 points and five rebounds, and sophomore guard Brittany Eley with 10 points. Hobbs made four 3-pointers, but it was not enough as Mason fell behind early in the first half. Kristen Hanzer led UNC-W with 14 points. The Seahawks built a big lead early in the contest by jumping to a 14-5 lead. Mason cut the lead to eight in the first half, but it was the closest Mason had the entire game. Mason shot 27 percent from the field in the first half. Mason falls to 3-20 overall and 1-11 in conference play. The Seahawks, on the other hand, swept the Patriots to improve their record to 11-12 while going 5-7 in the CAA.

SOFTBALL

Freshman third baseman Tori Dudley had a strong debut as she went 2-for-4 while scoring three runs in Mason’s season opening 7-1 win over the Western Carolina University Catamounts. After easily defeating the Catamounts in the first game, Mason fell to the Villanova University Wildcats 6-5 in the second game of a doubleheader at the University of Central Florida Early Bird Tournament in Orlando, Fla. In the first game, Mason was hot early, scoring four runs in the third inning after three Catamount errors. Junior ace pitcher Becky Anderson started off the season with a complete game. She allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts.

In the second game, Mason scored early, tallying four runs in the first two innings alone. But Mason could manage only one run from there on as Villanova scored four more runs, including the two-out game-winning hit from right fielder Shannon O’Brien. Anderson and freshman shortstop Rachael Davies recorded two hits and two RBIs apiece, but the team struck out 13 times. Wildcats reliever Megan Hord, who earned the win, only allowed one hit in 3-2/3 innings while striking out eight Mason batters. Mason drops to 1-1 on the season.