Women Patriots prevail on senior night, 77-55

Junior guard Taleia Moton goes up for the jumper in a game earlier this season. She has been a solid contributor all year, but Wednesday night's game was all about Mason's four seniors who went out in style, winning by 22 points against Northeastern.  (John Powell)

It was senior night with a freshman touch when the women Patriots (13-16, 7-11) took the floor Wednesday night against Northeastern in the Patriot Center.

Northeastern (8-21, 3-15) came out firing, as they started the game shooting 71 percent from the floor. But it was a pivotal timeout called by Mason head coach Jeri Porter at the 15-minute mark that changed everything.

Porter put the freshman in.

Freshman guard Christine Weithman entered the game, just the 24th time this season.  A deep three from the corner was all she needed to get going.  In just a five-minute stint off the bench, Weithman scored 8 points, only two away from her season high.  At that point Mason, had tied the score at 18 after trailing by 9 for the early part of the first half.

Mason never looked back as they went into halftime leading 38-22.  The Patriots, who entered the game 9- 0 when leading at halftime while on their home court, looked to be in good position to win their final home game of the season. Behind stellar three-point shooting from senior Ashleigh Braxton, the Patriots stroked two more deep balls before the second media timeout to take an 18-point lead.

But with every senior leader there’s a freshman follower.  It was Weithman who hit back-to-back three pointers to put Mason up by 28.  At that point in the game Mason had 10 three pointers, the first time since 2006 in a game against CAA rival Georgia State.

“Between Eley, Braxton and Weithman, we have some of the best shooters in the conference,” said Porter with a smile.

In a game marked by three-point shooting and ball control, Mason went on to win 77-55.  The four seniors, Braxton, Brittany Eley, Angelee LaTouche and Brittany Poindexter, combined for a total of 32 points.  But it was the freshman Wiethman who led all scorers with 21 points on 4-6 shooting from the three-point line.

Mason ended the season 7-11 in CAA conference play and 13-16 overall.  In just three years, Porter has taken this team from 4 wins in her first season to 13, doubling her win total each of the last two years.  The Patriots will look to prepare themselves for the CAA Tournament, beginning March 10 in Upper Marlboro, Md. They will be the No. 8 seed, playing Georgia State in the opening round.