(Jordan Giles / Fourth Estate)
Zahirah Walton’s 22 points power the Patriots to a third straight win as they spread breast cancer awareness
BY YONATAN DANIEL, STAFF WRITER AND PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Behind a resurgent Zahirah Walton, women’s basketball (19-8, 14-2 in A-10) defeated George Washington (14-15, 6-10 in A-10) 67-52 on Feb. 21. Their third win in a row puts the Patriots in the driver’s seat for a coveted double-bye.
This day was as much of a celebration for the fans as it was for the players. Before tipoff, the team’s graduating class was seen at center court with their families to commemorate Senior Day, and the EagleBank Arena crowd was engulfed in a sea of pink to honor those affected by breast cancer. Rounding out the festivities, dozens of Girl Scouts flooded the court at halftime to cheer on Mason.
Walton has bounced back after a rough 5-26 shooting stretch against Richmond and Rhode Island, scoring 20 or more points in back to back games. The second-leading scorer in the A-10 scored 22 against GW, shooting 8-18 from the field.
“You know, she just went through a tough spell,” Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. “I don’t think anybody got nervous, but I think for her, seeing the ball go through the hoop more consistently is really helping her stay consistent.”
Junior guard Kennedy Harris and freshman guard Mary Amoateng accompanied Walton with 26 combined points as Mason’s offense thrived in transition.
Mason’s fifth-ranked scoring defense showed out, converting 15 GW turnovers into 20 points. With three Patriots having multiple steals, GW had a hard time holding onto the ball.
Harris added a game-high 3 steals to her 14 points, capping off a well-rounded performance.
“I just take pride in my defense,” she said. “I want to be able to play both sides of the ball well.”
Her versatility was on full display midway through the second quarter, when she stole the ball and immediately found Amoateng for a transition 3-pointer to extend the lead to 26-22. Mason was lethal on the fast break, outscoring GW 16-0 in transition.
In the first quarter, Mason only held a 21-17 lead. Despite shooting a blistering 50% from the field in the first quarter, fouls late in the period gave GW much-needed life after the Patriots came out hot.
In the second quarter, Mason would extend the lead behind a 16-9 quarter. The Patriots suffocated the Revs on defense, forcing the visiting team to shoot 25% in the quarter.
The pressure did not let up in the second half. Mason forced three shot clock violations, including two late in the third quarter.
With this win, Mason’s conference record improves to 14-2, placing them firmly at second in the standings. Their next test will come against a red-hot Saint Joseph’s team that has won four straight games.
With only two games left in the season, Wednesday’s rematch against Saint Joseph’s won’t be an easy game. In their last matchup on Jan. 18, the Patriots came out victorious, winning 66-59 on the back of a 22-point performance from Harris.
Fans can watch the high-stakes rematch tonight on ESPN+ as the Patriots continue to prevail during this three-game streak.