George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
7-8, 2-1 A-10
George Mason
13-4, 2-1 A-10
Women's Basketball Once Again Takes Down George Mason
1/7/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON - In a Revolutionary Rivalry battle played with a national television audience tuning in, the George Washington women's basketball team used another dominant defensive effort and a career-high night from senior Brianna Cummings to tally a 62-52 win over visiting George Mason on Sunday night at the Charles E. Smith Center.
The teams both could claim that momentum was on their side entering play as the Colonials entered play having won three of its last four contests and with an unbeaten all-time record against the Patriots since George Mason entered the A-10 in 2013-14, while Mason boasted its best start of its Division I era with a 13-3 mark overall and perfect 2-0 record in conference play.
By the end of the affair, only the Colonials remain with momentum at their backs after a standout team defensive effort and a career-best night Cummings. The senior guard netted a career-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting to top her previous high of 23 set earlier this season against South Florida, getting it done with a beautiful midrange game in a contest when she didn't attempt a single three-pointer. The 5-foot-10 Cummings was also money at the free throw line in an 8-of-9 performance at the stripe to extend her season marks at the line to 66-of-73 (.904).
Cummings' offense was just part of the story though as the game was also won on the other end. George Mason entered play relying on the offense of graduate transfer Natalie Butler (UConn) from nearby Fairfax Station, VA and Nicole Cardano-Hillary who came in averaging 18.6 and 17.8 ppg, respectively. While Butler dropped in 16 points with a game-high 18 rebounds, the GW defense flummoxed the 6-foot-5 post as the Patriots struggled to get her touches. Facing a variety of defensive looks, Butler was efficient in her attempts but was limited to just nine shots (7-of-9). Meanwhile, feeling the need to carry the scoring load, Cardano-Hillary dropped in 26 points but it took 23 shots to get there. As for the balance of the Patriots, they combined for just 10 points on 9-of-25 shooting (.360); not nearly enough on a night when Cummings was in her zone.
Freshman Neila Luma provided ample scoring support for GW with 11, while Mei-Lyn Bautista's direction of the offense was nearly flawless with a game-high six assists against just one turnover. Defensively, Bautista was a disruptor snatching a game-high four steals in an effort that helped force 18 Mason turnovers.
The game started as a defensive slugfest, particularly in the second quarter that saw just 16 total points between the teams (George Mason 10-6). That was the only quarter that the Patriots would claim, however, as they resorted to fouling late and Cummings and the Colonials put the game away at the line. GW connected on 13-of-17 second half free throws to ice it, as after trailing 24-21 at the intermission, the Colonials were never truly threatened in the fourth quarter with a lead as large as 13.
Junior Kelsi Mahoney added to the defensive effort with three steals in a block, along with a pair of three pointers and four rebounds. Freshman Chyna Latimer added four points, four rebounds and one assist over 11 minutes off the bench.
A national television audience will once again be able to tune in for GW's next contest; a Saturday matinee with Duquesne on the 13th at noon on CBS Sports Network.
