BY NATALIE HEAVREN STAFF WRITER

Women’s basketball fell to 0-13 in conference play and 3-17 on the season after a 68-42 loss to Davidson on Feb. 20.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

LAYUP PERCENTAGE NEEDS TO IMPROVE TO HELP THE OFFENSE 

The Patriots have struggled to score throughout conference play, particularly while finishing around the rim. The team made just 5 of its 14 layup attempts against Davidson. Leaving 18 points on the table from layups alone is part of the reason the team has struggled to keep up with its opponents offensively. 

“We can’t score the ball. [If] you can’t score, the game’s really hard. So, same story, different day. Make layups,” head coach Nyla Milleson said after the game. 

Mason is last in the Atlantic 10 in scoring during conference play by nearly nine points, averaging just 46.1 points per game. 

Against Davidson, the Patriots scored more than nine points in only one quarter, which is not enough to win games. The team scored 21 points in the fourth quarter after Davidson had already put the game away — the same number of points it scored in the first three quarters combined. 

To get its first conference win the team will need to increase its scoring output and make more layups. 

MARIKA KORPINEN HAS LEFT AN IMPACT ON THE PROGRAM 

Over the last four years, Marika Korpinen has seamlessly adjusted to the role she was asked to play while continuing to work hard off the court to keep improving. 

Last season Milleson said, “From the minute she walked on campus — I mean, she’s the one that’s just going above and beyond. You’re never going to be very good if you’re a nine-to-five player. She certainly is not.”

With one scheduled game left in the regular season, Korpinen has averaged career highs across the board, including 9.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33.2 minutes per game. 

“I’ve loved the four years here, for sure. It has been the best four years of my life,” Korpinen said after the game.

MASON NEEDS TO LIMIT TURNOVERS 

Mason leads the conference in turnovers per game in conference play, averaging 16.9 per game. This significantly limits the number of shots the team is able to take while giving its opponents more opportunities to score. 

Davidson scored 14 points off of Mason’s 18 turnovers, a significant difference between Mason’s six points off of Davidson’s nine turnovers. 

Limiting turnovers will be key to working towards getting its first conference win. 

The Patriots are scheduled to return to the court at George Washington on Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.