Box Score FAIRFAX, Va. - The Bowie State University women's basketball team fell short of victory in a 98-60 exhibition loss to Division I George Mason University on Sunday afternoon at the Patriot Center. Juniors Ashley Castle (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Denver Clyde (Glen Burnie, Md.) led the Bulldogs with 14 and 12 points respectively. PHOTOS (Courtesy of Rafael Suanes)

The Lady Bulldogs kept the game close in the first 10 minutes of action, leading by three twice at 19-16 and 21-18 on back-to-back layups by graduate student Uchechi Ahaiwe (Riverdale, Md.). However, the Colonials went on a 14-0 run and never were threatened after that.

The first half featured four ties and nine lead changes before George Mason settled down and pulled away.

Bowie State trailed 45-27 at the break. The Lady Bulldogs shot 28 percent (9-32) from the field in the first half, compared to 47 percent (14-30) for George Mason. Castle led BSU in scoring for the first half with eight points while Clyde had six points and seven boards at intermission.

George Mason stretched out their lead in the second half, outscoring Bowie State 53-33. The Patriots finished the contest shooting 50 percent (28-56) from the floor and held a 48 to 37 rebounding advantage.

All 13 Bowie State players saw action and scored in the game. Uchechi scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds in just 10 minutes. Senior Alessandra Flores Conway (Hagerstown, Md.) chipped in seven points, sophomore Alauna Jackson (Ellicott City, Md.) scored four and graduate student Ashley Davis (Odenton, Md.) contributed three points. Six other Lady Bulldog players added two points each.

Clyde and senior Moriah Goodman led Bowie State on the glass with seven rebounds each.

Four of five George Mason starters scored in double figures with Cierra Strickland (Forestville, Md.) leading the Colonials with 21 points. Taylor Brown (Bowie, Md.) and Janaa Pickard (Philadelphia, Pa.) recorded 19 and 16 points respectively and Talisha Watts (Lynchburg, Va.) added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Bowie State begins the regular season on Friday (November 8th) hosting Nyanck (N.Y.) College at 6 pm in the A.C. Jordan Arena.