FAIRFAX, Va. - The Loyola University Maryland women's basketball team was unable to find its hot hand Tuesday afternoon, as the Greyhounds fell to George Mason, 70-38, in both teams' season opener at EagleBank Arena.
 
Sophomore Isabella Therien led the Greyhounds with 11 points, while junior Stephanie Karcz had 17 rebounds, four assists and four steals. 
 
Therien scored the first points of the 2018-19 season for the Greyhounds, sandwiching shots from graduate student Bri Betz-White and Karcz around a pair of Patriots free throws to give Loyola an early 4-2 lead. She then converted a free throw after George Mason took its first lead, keeping Loyola within one, at 6-5. Loyola would struggle to convert offensively after that though, as the Greyhounds went 0-for-4 from the floor while George Mason went 5-for-5 to put the Patriots ahead 21-5 at the end of the first quarter.  
 
Loyola was unable to make up for its deficit in the second quarter, as its only connected on two-of-15 attempts, allowing George Mason to work its lead to a 35-14 halftime advantage.
 
The Greyhounds continued to battle into the second half, but they would be unable to close their deficit, as George Mason outscored Loyola, 35-24, through the second half, en route to the victory. 
 
For the game, Loyola shot 20.0 percent (12-of-60) from the field, while the Patriots connected on 52.8 percent (28-of-53) of their shots.
 
Freshman Taleah Dixon made her Greyhound debut in the contest and finished with five points and two steals.
 
Loyola will remain on the road for two more games before returning to Reitz Arena for the home opener against William & Mary on Saturday, November 17. The Greyhounds will first travel to Dartmouth on Friday for a 7 p.m. tipoff, and then head to Georgetown on Tuesday, November 13 for a 7 p.m. game.