Tribe Falls at George Mason, 47-42

01/24/08 10:00PM

FAIRFAX, Va. - The William and Mary women’s basketball team fell at George Mason, 47-42, on Thursday evening in Fairfax, Va.

Senior Kyra Kaylor led the Tribe (8-10, 2-4) with her fifth double-double of the season, totaling a game-high 15 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Sophomore Kelly Heath also finished in double figures scoring with 12 points, while senior Devin James and junior Courtney Portell both registered three steals apiece.

As a team, W&M dominated the boards, 45-35, and snared 19 offensive rebounds. Additionally, the College limited GMU (8-9, 2-4) to just 32.6 percent shooting and tallied 14 steals.

While W&M scored the contest’s initial basket when Portell sank a three-pointer, Mason connected on its first four attempts from the field to answer with an 8-0 run.

The Tribe limited the Patriots to just two points during the next 7:55, as it cut the lead to 10-8 with 12:22 remaining. James sank a pair of free throws during the stretch, while Kaylor sank a three-pointer from the top of the key.

Both teams struggled offensively during much of the remainder of the half, but the Green and Gold utilized an 8-0 run during a 3:14 span to go ahead, 16-12, with a little more than three minutes showing. Heath provided a pair of baskets during the run, while James and sophomore Tiffany Benson converted layins.

At the break, the Tribe led, 18-17. In addition to controlling the rebounding battle, 24-17, W&M held GMU to just 28.6 percent shooting. W&M also had nine steals and forced the Patriots into 15 turnovers. Individually, Heath led all scorers with six points.

While Mason briefly reclaimed the lead, 20-19, on a three-pointer by Rashauna Hobbs early in the second half, it would be the Patriots’ lone field goal during the opening 10:05 of the stanza. During the stretch, the College rattled off an 11-0 run to build a 30-20 advantage with 11:30 remaining. Heath scored six of the Tribe’s points during the stretch.

Despite the double-digit lead, the Patriots charged back with a 21-4 run during the next 6:55 to take a seven-point lead, 41-34.

W&M answered with a 6-0 spurt of its own to draw within one following a layin by Kaylor with 1:46 showing. A pair of free throws by GMU’s Lateisha Wade put the Patriots ahead, 43-40, and the College missed a trio of three-point attempts on the ensuing possession.

A short jumper in the lane by Portell with 12 seconds remaining cut the margin to three, but Wade sealed the game at the free throw line.

The Tribe will return to action when it plays at Drexel on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Box Score