FAIRFAX, Va. – Explorer women's basketball fell to the George Mason Patriots Saturday night 74-37 in the A-10 Conference opener. La Salle will be back in action Tuesday night when the Davidson Wildcats pay a visit to Tom Gola Arena.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first quarter started slow for both sides offensively. The Explorers had open looks, but were not converting on the shots right away.
• Nearing the end of the first ten minutes of play, Mason started to heat up from beyond the arch. On three straight possessions the Patriots hit from three putting them up by ten at one point.
• With under a minute remaining in the first, Makayla Miller found an open Tiara Bolden in three-point range. The freshman took the shot and converted the Explorer's first three of the game.
• Heading into the second quarter, George Mason continued to connect from deep. Kennedy Harris and Taylor Jameson hit threes, adding to the Patriot lead.
• Down the stretch of the first half, Zahirah Walton took over for Mason. The sophomore turned Explorer turnovers into points on multiple occasions. She finished the half with eight points off the bench. Tiara Bolden led La Salle with five points at the break.
• The Mason offense was relentless in the third quarter and got the lead to 25 points at one point. More La Salle turnovers aided in the Mason scoring efforts, specifically Nekhu Mitchell.
• The lone three for La Salle in the third came from Gabby Turco. The junior transfer continues to be able to find the basket, especially in recent games.
• Freshman Nicole Melious ranks as one of the better three-point shooters in all of the A-10 Conference, and in today's game she converted twice from deep. Game in and game out Melious continues to take a shot that has served her well throughout her playing career.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Melious led La Salle in scoring by the end of the contest with eight points, Bolden not far behind with seven points.
• The Explorers combined for 40 rebounds on the night, nine of which game from the team leader Jolene Armendariz (9).
• 5^th year student Ashley Hopper saw her first collegiate action late in tonight's contest. The Rockledge, Pa. native drew a foul and converted on one of her two free throws for her first point of her career.
• Turnovers played a major role in tonight's game for La Salle. The team had 24 turnovers which resulted in 31 points for George Mason, almost half of their point total.