FAIRFAX, Va. – The UMass women’s basketball team spent most of the contest within striking distance of George Mason, but 32 points from Taleia Moton helped the Patriots hold off the Minutewomen, 55-52, on Thursday evening at the Patriot Center. UMass is now 1-6 on the season, while Mason moves to 5-1 following their fifth straight victory.
Junior Jasmine Watson (South Bend, Ind./South Bend Washington) scored in double figures for the sixth straight game, totaling 14 points and six boards. Classmate Shakia Robinson (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) joined Watson with 14 points and had a team-best seven rebounds. Senior Megan Zullo (Greenville, N.C./Farmville/N.C. State) added 10 points and five assists, while senior Emilie Teuscher (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) had eight points and freshman Aisha Rodney (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) grabbed five rebounds.
UMass led briefly in the opening minutes, but Moton’s basket at 18:06 put George Mason in front for good. The Patriots led by as many as 10 in the opening period before the Minutewomen closed the half with a spirited 9-0 run. Watson hit a layup at the buzzer to cap off the spurt and pull UMass within one of Mason at the intermission, 28-27.
The Minutewomen remained within reach of the Patriots throughout the second half, trailing by no more than nine for the duration. Down by eight at the 8:09 mark, UMass posted seven straight points to cut the deficit to 51-50 with 4:55 to play. However, two baskets by Moton in the remainder of the contest helped seal the win for Mason.
The Minutewomen shot 36.8% (21-57) overall, made 4-of-13 (30.8%) from three-point range and were perfect at the free throw line at 6-for-6. The Patriots shot 22-for-58 (37.9%), 5-for-11 (45.5%) from beyond the arc and 6-for-11 (54.5%) at the charity stripe.
In addition to Moton’s 32 points, she grabbed four steals for George Mason. Rahneeka Saunders totaled a game-high 11 rebounds and Evelyn Lewis added eight boards.
UMass will conclude its three-game stint on the road next Wednesday, Dec. 7, playing at Boston College at 7 p.m.
Leave a Reply