FAIRFAX, Va. – Junior guard Raven Bankston scored a game-high 31 points as the Towson University women's basketball team fell at George Mason on Tuesday evening. Bankston added five rebounds for the Tigers in the contest.

THE BASICS
George Mason 88, Towson 76
EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Towson jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the first quarter as freshman guard Sianni Martin connected on a jumper at 5:36. George Mason (1-2) used a 10-2 run to take a 14-9 lead with 3:47 left in the quarter. Kristi Mokube had five points for the Patriots during that run. Towson scored eight of the final 15 points in the first quarter and pulled to within four, 21-17. Bankston and junior forward Brianna Bush each scored four points during the run.
• The Tigers opened the second quarter on a 16-4 run and took a 33-25 lead with 3:51 to go in the quarter. Bankston scored seven of the Tigers' 16 while Martin added four points. George Mason responded with a 6-0 run of its own and pulled to within two, 33-31 with 1:33 to go in the quarter. The final points of the quarter came from sophomore guard Breonn Hughey who connected on a three-pointer which sent Towson into the half leading 36-31.
• George Mason scored 10 of the first 15 points in the third quarter and tied the score at 41-41 with 7:07 showing on the clock. Mokube and Taylor Brown each had four points during that run. Towson scored three of the next four points and took a 44-43 lead with 5:17 to go in the quarter. George Mason scored 14 of the final 17 points in the third quarter and took a 57-47 lead with 10 minutes left in the game. Mokube scored half of the Patriots' points during that stretch that proved to be the turning point in the game.
• The two teams traded baskets early in the fourth quarter as Kara Wright's lay-up at 7:03 gave George Mason a 66-53 advantage. Mason pushed its advantage to 72-58 on a pair of Mokube free throws with 5:21 remaining on the clock. Towson cut its deficit to nine, 74-65 as Bankston connected on a pair of free throws with 3:52 to play in the game. George Mason used a 12-2 run to take a 86-67 lead with 1:41 to go in the game. That was the Patriots' largest lead of the game. Towson closed the game on a 9-2 run which made the final score 88-67. Bankston scored four points down the stretch.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Bankston's 31 points were the most by a Tiger since LaTorri Hines-Allen scored 31 at James Madison in last year's season opener.
• Martin, the reigning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Co-Rookie of the Week, had 17 points in 32 minutes of work.
• Senior guard Dominique Johnson was the third Tiger in double figures as she finished with 10 points, four rebounds and a game-high four steals.
• Sophomore center Daijha Thomas led the Tigers on the boards for the second straight game with nine.
•  Mokube led George Mason with 22 points and seven rebounds.

The Tigers are back in action when they play their home opener against Coppin State on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 4 p.m. in SECU Arena. It will be a "gold rush" game and all fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game.