FAIRFAX, Va. (DC News Now) — After losing consecutive games for the first time this season, George Mason women’s basketball wrapped up their regular season schedule Saturday afternoon, defeating Duquesne 86-63.
The win improved the Patriots’ record to 24-5, with a 14-4 Atlantic-10 record, clinching the 2-seed in the upcoming conference tournament next week. It will be their highest seeding in the A-10 in program history.
“I am so incredibly proud of the belief that they’ve had in themselves and the belief in this coaching staff,” said head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, who is now 47-13 in the last two seasons. “Tonight was a great way to end the conference regular season.”
“It’s truly a blessing just to be here,” said senior forward Nalani Kaysia. “It’s a testament to all the work that we as a collective put in. We have all put in a bunch of hours, and it’s all coming to fruition.”
Five players scored in double figures for the Patriots on the afternoon. All four seniors on the roster scored points in their final game at EagleBank Arena.
Sophomore Zahirah Walton led the scoring for the Patriots with 16. Kaysia finished with a double-double, scoring ten points while snagging 21 rebounds, one off of her career-high, and seven more than the Duquesne starting lineup.
For George Mason, it’s another historic season. However, for the team, the real season begins for them, as they try to win the A-10 for the first time ever, and punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.
“I’m super excited to compete with this team,” said Kaysia, who missed out on competing in the conference tournament last season. “There’s not a team in the A-10 that we should lose to. We can beat anybody, and we just have to know that and believe in ourselves.”
The Atlantic-10 women’s basketball conference tournament will begin on Wednesday. For George Mason, they will have a double bye, meaning their first game will be on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Glen Allen, Va.
