TOWSON, Md. – Senior guard Sheree Ledbetter scored on a rebound layup with two seconds remaining in overtime to give the Tigers (16-9, 7-7) a 70-68 Colonial Athletic Association victory over George Mason (12-13, 6-8) on Thursday night in the Towson Center.

The victory extended the Tigers' winning streak to four games as they avenged an earlier loss to the Patriots. The win also enabled the Tigers to move into a tie for sixth place in the CAA with Virginia Commonwealth.

The victory also marked the sixth time this season that the Tigers scored a game-winning or game-tying basket in the final 10 seconds of play.

The Tigers are now 11-0 in games decided by six points or less.

“I'm extremely proud of our kids tonight,” said Coach Joe Mathews. “We battled a tough team all night and everybody stepped up and really did their part in the contest.”

In overtime, the Tigers and Patriots (12-13, 6-8 CAA) continued the back-and-forth battle they had been waging all game. The Tigers went up 64-61 with 3:45 to play in the extra session before Taleia Moton converted a three-point play to tie the game at 64-64. Tied at 66-66, the home team went up 68-66 on a jumper by senior guard Krystal Parnell. Evelyn Lewis tied the game at 68-68 with 1:31 to play on a driving lay-up. t marked the 12th time that the game was tied.

The Patriots had a chance to go ahead with 13 seconds left but the Tigers forced Moton into a turnover. Parnell drove the lenghth of the floor and missed a lay-up from the left side with five seconds left.

However, Ledbetter came from the right side and grabbed the rebound, put the ball back up for the game-winning bucket.

The Tigers had forced overtime with a late second half rally. Leading by 34-30 at halftime, the Patriots scored eight of the first 10 points to extend their advantage to 42-32 with 14:13 left in regulation. That lead was George Mason's largest of the game.

The Tigers responded with a 13-3 run to tie the game at 45-45 with 10:41 to play. After a Moton foul shot gave the visitors a 46-45 lead, the Tigers scored the next six points to take a 51-46 advantage with 6:48 to go. But, the Patriots responded with an 11-3 run to grab a 59-54 advantage with 1:23 to play in regulation.

Freshman guard Ciara Webb nailed a three-pointer with 1:03 to go, making it a 59-57 game. After Webb stole the ball from Moten, Parnell was fouled on a drive to the basket. She hit a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left to tie the game at 59-59. The Tiger defense forced Rahneeka Saunders to take an off-balance shot with five seconds left which was rebounded by Deree Fooks.The Tigers didn't have enough time for a good shot.

In the first half, the two teams battled early and were tied at 16-16 with 9:31 remaining in the half. George Mason used a 7-2 run to take a 23-18 lead with 7:09 to go. The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes and found themselves locked at 27-27. George Mason scored seven of the final 10 points to take a 34-30 lead at the half.

Towson shot 35.8% from the field for the game but was 5-for-9 in overtime. The Tigers shot a season-high 89.5% from the free throw line including a perfect 12-for-12 in the second half. During one stretch, the Tigers made 17 consecutive free throws.

The Patriots shot 50% from the floor and made five of nine three-pointers.The Tigers had a slight 36-35 edge in the rebounding battle but grabbed 17 offensive rebounds.

The Tigers also won the turnover battle as they made 13 steals to force 18 turnovers. They only had eight turnovers in the game.

Parnell led three Towson players in double figures as she scored 18 points in the game. The senior point guard had six assists with no turnovers and four steals in 40 minutes of action.

Sophomore guard Tanisha McTiller contributed 16 points, including four points in overtime. Senior guard Krystin Fields had 10 points and six rebounds. Webb finished with a season-high nine points while Fooks led the team on the glass with 10 rebounds.

Moton and Lewis led George Mason with 15 points and five rebounds each.

The Tigers return to action on Sunday, Feb. 18 when they travel to Hofstra for a 2 p.m. tip.