FAIRFAX, Va. – The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team (9-14, 5-6 A-10) held steady Sunday afternoon and took down George Mason (8-15, 2-9 A-10), 50-45.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Mason jumped out to an early lead with an 8-2 run over the opening 5:27, including 6-0 of the last 3:32. SJU closed the gap with an 11-10 advantage the rest of the first with Mason up, 18-13.
• St. Joe's continued to chip away at the deficit with a 7-4 spurt through the initial 5:19 of the second period with the Patriots up, 22-20. The Hawks held steady and pulled ahead after a 5-1 margin into the half for a 25-23 lead. The five points allowed in the second by the SJU defense is tied for the least amount in a quarter this season.
• Mason rallied back in the third to send the game to the fourth with a 33-33 tie.
• The Hawks pulled ahead by as many as five over the first 5:07 of the final stanza, but the Patriots trimmed that to three at the 4:53 media stoppage. SJU held a 42-39 lead. St. Joe's finished with an 8-6 advantage to seal the win.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

• St. Joe's shot 32.7% (18-of-55) from the floor, 22.2% (4-of-18) from deep, and 66.7% (10-of-15) from the line.
• Mason went 31.9% (15-of-47) overall, 15.4% (2-of-13) from long range, and 59.1% (13-of-22) from the stripe.
• SJU won the rebounding battle (+5), but lost the turnover margin (-5).
• Rookie Talya Brugler led the Hawks with 14 points on a 5-of-10 outing and corralled four rebounds.
• Sophomore Olivia Mullins tallied nine points and six assists.
• Freshman Laila Fair added nine points and grabbed five rebounds. She went 3-of-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line.

UP NEXT:
On a quick turnaround, the Hawks head to St. Louis for a battle with the Billikens on Wednesday.