FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — George Mason defeated Akron 66-60 on Thursday at EagleBank Arena in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game, improving to 2-0 while dropping the Zips to 0-2. Attendance was 835.

Akron scored 17 points in the first quarter, 21 in the second, 8 in the third and 14 in the fourth. George Mason scored 20 points in the first quarter, 19 in the second, 13 in the third and 14 in the fourth. The Patriots answered an early Akron burst and kept the game close into the final quarter, where both teams scored 14 points.

Akron shot 24 of 59 from the floor, 3 of 15 from 3-point range and 9 of 15 from the free-throw line. George Mason shot 24 of 55 from the floor, 5 of 18 from 3-point range and 13 of 22 from the free-throw line. Both teams had eight offensive rebounds and nine assists. George Mason blocked four shots. Akron committed 16 turnovers and George Mason committed 17. Akron scored 60 points from 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 80.9. George Mason scored 66 points from 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 88.7.

Summer Yancy of George Mason led all scorers with 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 37 minutes. The 5-foot-11 guard from Kansas City, Mo., who previously played at Lee’s Summit North, gave the Patriots a steady presence throughout. Mary-Kate Tshibuabua of George Mason added 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 27 minutes. The 6-foot-1 forward previously played at École Acadomia. Shaena Brew of Akron had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes. The 5-foot-6 guard previously played at Etiwanda High School. Macey Fegan of Akron finished with eight points, seven rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes. The 5-foot-11 forward previously played at Standish Sterling. Anovia Sheals of George Mason had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes. The 5-foot-11 guard previously played at Mainland.

Kaylah Thornton of Akron added eight points, three rebounds and one assist in 18 minutes. The 5-foot-8 guard previously played at Kettering Fairmont High School. Mary Amoateng of George Mason had eight points, four rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes. The 5-foot-6 guard previously played at Bishop Mcnamara High School. Jessie Joaquim of Akron finished with eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. The 6-foot-2 forward previously played at Cochise College. Tyla Heard of Akron had eight points, four rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes. The 5-foot-11 guard previously played at Sapulpa HS. Lourdes Da Silva Costa of George Mason added seven points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes. The 6-foot-3 forward previously played at Montverde Academy.

Akron opened the game with a 5-0 lead after Jessie Joaquim made a layup and Teniesha Clarke connected on a 3-point jump shot. George Mason answered with Summer Yancy’s layup and later tied the score on Yancy’s layup with 15.1 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Madison Bob made a free throw for George Mason, Annika Manthy made one free throw and a layup for Akron, and Trinity Massenberg made a layup and a free throw for the Patriots. The teams traded baskets throughout the second quarter. Anovia Sheals opened the second-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer, and Mary-Kate Tshibuabua made consecutive layups to help George Mason. Akron’s Kaylah Thornton hit a 3-pointer in the second, and Shaena Brew made a floating jump shot. Yancy made a 3-pointer late in the second for George Mason, and Trinity Massenberg added a layup.

In the third quarter, Mary Amoateng made a 3-pointer for George Mason, while Brew and Tshibuabua traded baskets. Lourdes Da Silva Costa made a layup, and Trinity Massenberg added another layup for the Patriots. Akron’s Monique Mitchell hit a 3-pointer, and Macey Fegan made a layup. Yancy made a 3-pointer for George Mason, but Akron stayed close with Tyla Heard’s layup, Thornton’s layup, two free throws by Joaquim and Brew’s layup. Amoateng made a layup for George Mason, and Brew answered with a transition jump shot to end the third quarter.

The closing stretch decided the game. Joaquim made a layup to put Akron ahead 54-53 with 8:58 left. Anovia Sheals made two free throws, Teniesha Clarke scored a layup for Akron, and Yancy hit a jumper to give George Mason a 57-56 lead with 5:49 remaining. Brew made one free throw to tie the score at 57 with 2:52 left. Tshibuabua made a jump shot with 2:10 remaining, and Heard tied the score at 59 with a layup at the 1:50 mark. Da Silva Costa made a 3-point field goal with 1:29 left to put George Mason ahead, and Amoateng made four free throws in the final 20.8 seconds. Akron’s Thornton made one free throw with 4.5 seconds left. Tshibuabua made the final free throw with 2.7 seconds remaining.

Akron opened the season with a one-point home loss to South Alabama. George Mason opened with a home win over Temple. Akron next plays at Xavier, while George Mason next visits Maryland.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Akron 64, George Mason 63. Interstat’s ELO system had projected George Mason with a 99.5 percent probability to win.