Latt’s Big Night Carries 'Cats to 68-63 Win

Wednesday, February 3

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

10-13, 4-6 A-10

George Mason

9-14, 4-6 A-10

George Mason

Davidson

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Latt’s Big Night Carries 'Cats to 68-63 Win

2/3/2016 10:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Box Score (pdf)
Game Highlights
Postgame Interview- Savage & Latt
Photo Gallery vs. Mason
DavidsonPhotos.com

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Paced by sophomore Mackenzie Latt's 18 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, Davidson held on and earned a 68-63 Atlantic 10 win Wednesday night over George Mason at home in John M. Belk Arena.

Latt drained 8-of-17 field goals and pulled in a seven-best seven of her 19 rebounds on offense. It was the most rebounds by a Wildcat since Sophia Aleksandravicius recorded 20 at Appalachian State, Jan. 15, 2012. The double-double was her second straight and the 13th of her career.

Three other 'Cats (10-13, 4-6 A-10) joined Latt in double digits. Dakota Dukes filled the box score with 16 points, seven rebounds, a season-high four assists and four blocks. Diona Johnson came off the bench to tie her career-high with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and Hannah Early scored 11.

Early's triple with 2:50 to go in the fourth quarter gave Davidson a 65-58 lead. Mason would later cut the lead down to two at 65-63 after Taylor Brown scored five straight points. Early then swished home 1-of-2 free throws to make it a three-point ball game with 23 ticks left.

On Mason's next possession, Brown missed a contested layup that was blocked by Dukes, who then pulled in the rebound and was fouled. She sealed the win with two free throws to make it 68-63.

Latt put an exclamation point on the win when she blocked the Patriots' last shot and earned her 19th rebound.

George Mason (9-14, 4-6 A-10) put four in double figures, led by Kara Wright's 13 points. Tiffany Padgett, Chinyere Bell and Brown each scored 12.

Davidson took the lead for good when it broke up a 41-all tie in the third quarter on Johnson's layup with 1:23 left to make 44-43.

Both teams had a tough time getting started as they combined to shoot 9-for-34 after the first quarter.

Davidson then found itself down twice by eight points in the second quarter, but led by Johnson's hot-shooting hand the 'Cats closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to head into the break tied at 30-all. Johnson canned two treys during the run and finished with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first half.

The Wildcats held a 44-36 advantage on rebounds, getting 16 on the offensive end. They also dished out 18 assists, one off their season high, on their 26 field goals.

Davidson caps off its two-game homestand Saturday vs. Duquesne at 2 p.m.

GAME NOTES: This was just the second-ever meeting all-time between the two schools and Davidson's first win in the series … the Wildcats halted their three-game losing streak tonight ... the 44-rebound effort was Davidson's 12th game of 40 or more … Alexandra Long matched her season high with five dimes … the 'Cats hit 8-of-12 field goals in the fourth quarter … Davidson's eight blocks were one of its season high … Early is eight three-pointers away from breaking the all-time mark of 222 set by Laura Murray.