GLEN ALLEN, Va. -- The George Mason Patriots can write their names into the program’s history books.
The second-seeded Patriots are on their way to the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball semifinals for the first time in George Mason’s history. The Patriots advance after their 87-57 defeat over the 10-seeded Saint Louis Billikens on Friday night at the Henrico Sports and Events Center.
The Patriots (25-5) also have reached a program-best 25 wins.
“It’s really good,” GM’s Paula Suarez said of the Patriots’ record-breaking season. “But we’re not going to celebrate that right now. We’re just focused on the next game.”
George Mason will await its opponent in the semifinal. The Patriots will face the winner of Friday’s final quarterfinal between three-seeded Davidson and six-seeded Dayton. The Patriots split their two regular season matchups with Davidson and won their lone meeting with Dayton.
The semifinal appearance will be GM’s first since joining the Atlantic 10.
George Mason did its damage from the free throw line in the first quarter. The Patriots went a perfect 8 of 8 from the line to build a 21-10 lead over the Billikens. GM also shot 5 of 10 from the field to fuel an 11-point lead.
The Patriots pulled away from two banked free throws by Zahirah Walton. Once the Patriots pulled away, Saint Louis would get as close as a five-point deficit on a layup from Peyton Kennedy in the first quarter. GM never wavered and began the second quarter outpacing the Billikens, 12-3. The Patriots secured a double-digit lead at half after shooting 11 of 27 (40.7 percent) from the field and a perfect 13 of 13 from the line.
The Patriots' perfection at the free throw line played a crucial role in their first half offensive success. It allowed GM to carry a 19-point advantage in the half. In the first half, Walton and Kennedy Harris each went 5 of 5, and Habib went 3 of 3.
The Patriots finished 32 for 37 from the line.
Four players reached double figures for the Patriots. Harris led with 18, followed by 13 each from Walton and Suarez. Page Greenburg added 12 points.
“It was really good to see the ladies come out firing like this tonight,” GM coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. “But we emphasized that we had to have a strong defensive presence. Saint Louis is a team that is going to make you play fast and not go away.”
Shun’teria Anumele scored 15 for the Billikens and was followed by Mya Glanton with 10. Glanton also had a Saint Louis team high of eight rebounds with Kennedy and Brooklyn Gray each grabbing four.
George Mason outrebounded Saint Louis 44-28. The Patriots were led in rebounding by Nalani Kaysia (10), seven from Walton, six from Louis Volker and five from Nekhu Mitchell.
Rebounding was something that Saint Louis coach Rebecca Tillett said the team knew would be important to upset the Patriots.
“I think that truly is the difference in the game,” Tillett said. “Rebounding and the toughness it takes to get that part done.”