Lady Mustangs Start Season With 19-Point Win

Using last season’s 63-36 loss to Radford in the Virginia High School League’s semifinals, the George Mason lady Mustangs opened the 2011-12 season with a 53-34 win at home against Broad Run Thursday.

Mason started the game slow with Bull Run District Player of the Year Stephanie Cheney spending most of the second period on the bench with two early fouls. Head coach LaBryan Thomas said it’s a team rule that when one of his players picks up two fouls in the first half, they sit it out until the second half. Cheney (15-points) was one of four starters in foul trouble early on which opened the door for freshman Katie Goodwin to get in the game.

Thomas said he knew Goodwin would contribute this season but he wasn’t sure exactly how. In her first varsity game, Goodwin scored nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

“I told her to go out there and rebound and she did,” Thomas said.

Godwin said she was excited to get in her first varsity game after spending last season on Mason’s junior varsity team. The intensity of the game is a major difference compared to JV. When Thomas told Goodwin to get in the game, the freshman said she didn’t know what to think.

“I expected the starting five to be in the whole game,” Goodwin said. “I was like ‘Alright Katie, it’s time to bring it’.”

After almost completing a double-double in her first varsity game, Goodwin said she is looking forward to possibly playing more. She said she brings energy to the game and loves doing things to motivate her team.

FREE THROWS

- Cheney led all scores with 15 with Goodwin and Leah Roth both scoring nine points. Sophomore Jaya Chavern scored seven points for the lady Mustangs.

-The Mason boys varsity team lost 43-28 to Loudoun County on the road.