LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Drake Bulldogs nearly overcame a 22-point deficit against the George Mason Patriots Saturday afternoon before falling 76-70 in their final game of the 2012 Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. Drake led 68-67 after a jumper in the paint by Alyssa Marschner (Plymouth, Minn.) with 1:38 left in the contest but the Patriots got four points from Rahneeka Saunders down the stretch to help hold off the Bulldogs.

Drake (1-3) was led in scoring by sophomore Kyndal Clark (Webb City, Mo.) and junior Morgan Reid (Kansas City, Mo.) as each had 14 points. Reid added 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. Senior Stephanie Running (Oak Creek, Wis.) scored 12 points and just missed a double-double finishing with nine rebounds.

Saunders finished with a game-high 33 points to lead George Mason (3-2). Saunders knocked down 10-of-16 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line, including some late that helped seal the win. Saunders added a team-high eight rebounds.

Drake trailed 39-17 after a three-pointer by Saunders with 3:52 left in the first half. The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead with a 13-5 run to close the half and trailed 44-30 at halftime.

"We shook things up with Mary Pat (Specht) and Dilonna (Johnson) in the lineup to start the second half and came out with great energy," Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk. "However as a young team we have to learn to put two halves of basketball together and close out these close games. We will eventually figure it out and win one of these."

Drake used a 6-2 run in the second half to trim the George Mason lead to 56-51 with 8:37 left in the game. Running rebounded her own miss and put it in the basket to tie the game at 63-63 at the 4:01 mark. After the four-minute media timeout, two free throws by Saunders put George Mason back ahead, 65-63. Running, the only senior on the Drake roster this season, made a layup to tie the game at 65-65 with 2:49 left in the game.

"Stephanie is putting heart and soul into this team and bringing it in her senior season," Baranczyk said. "Phenomenal effort by Morgan today and that's what we are looking for in a Drake women's basketball player now and going forward. Great fight by her."

The Bulldogs committed nine turnovers to just three turnovers by the Patriots in the opening half. George Mason was led in scoring in the first half by Saunders, who had 16 points. The Patriots shot 48.4 percent (15-of-31) from the field and limited Drake to just 36.4 percent (12-of-33).

Drake tightened up its defense and held George Mason to just 34.6 percent (9-of-26) in the second half. The Bulldogs improved their shooting in the second half and finished the game 27-of-66 (40.9 percent) from the field.

Drake outrebounded George Mason, 46-35. The Patriots were 25-of-36 from the charity stripe and the Bulldogs made 11-of-19.

The Bulldogs will have a quick turnaround this week with a trip north on Interstate 35 to Ames Tuesday to face the Iowa State Cyclones (4-0). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.