Tucson, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats came alive in overtime to race by George Mason 68-60 Tuesday afternoon at McKale Center to improve to 6-0 on their home court this season.

The Cats outscored the Patriots 15-7 in the extra session to earn the win in front of 990 fans. Freshman Destiny Graham, who made her first career start in the game, had six of the team's 15 points in overtime, knocking down two free throws and hitting one bucket. The freshman from San Francisco finished with a career-high 14 points and four rebounds in a career best 31 minutes.

LaBrittney Jones led all Wildcats with 16 points and also added five points and three blocks.

“It was a great overtime period for us,” Coach Niya Butts said. “Destiny Graham, in her first career start, I don't think you could ask for a better stat line. She made clutch free throws there at the end of the game that we needed. She rebounded the ball well and only had one turnover. We were pretty pleased with her production overall.”

The Wildcats (9-3) led by 10 points at the end of the third quarter, but saw the visiting Patriots put together a strong fourth quarter. The Patriots went on a 9-0 run over the first five minutes of the quarter and cut it to 47-46 when Kristi Mokube hit a jump shot with 4:41 to play. Jones answered back with a pair of free throws to extend the lead to three with 3:45 to play.

The Patriots eventually tied the game up at 51 with 2:32 to play just to see Jones hit a jump shot off a pass from Lauren Evans to put the Cats up two with 2:05 left. Again, George Mason answered and tied the game when Chinyere Bell hit a shot with 1:21 left. Neither team could score over the final 81 seconds, which sent the game to overtime.

In the team's first overtime game of the season, the Wildcats started fast. Graham opened the scoring with a jumper and Malena Washington extended the lead to four with a layup with 3:35 left in the extra period.

After the Patriots (5-8) cut it to two, Washington hit a 3-pointer to make it 60-55 with 2:54 left on the clock. George Mason cut the lead to 64-60 with 1:42 left, but the Wildcats scored the final four points of the game off a Jones bucket and one free throw apiece from Washington and Taryn Griffey.

Jones, who made her first start of the season, was a force all game, playing 27 minutes in just her fourth game back from a foot injury that forced her to miss eight contests.

“I sometimes neglect to talk about LaBrittney because she's always pretty solid,” Butts said. “But she certainly made a play there at the end that we needed, hitting a bank shot for two crucial points. She made plays down the stretch and hit free throws, so she was big in the game for us.”

All total, the Wildcats had four players score in double figures. Washington finished with 12 points and four rebounds in 24 minutes and Evans had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes. The points and minutes totals were both career highs for the Virginia Tech transfer.

Arizona finished its non-conference schedule with a 9-3 mark and will now turn its attention to Pac-12 play. The Wildcats will open league play Saturday at home against No. 11 Stanford at 3 p.m. The Wildcats, who have a seven-game home winning streak dating back to last season, topped Stanford at home last season.

“Entering Pac-12 play at 9-3 is not too bad, so I like our position going in, however, I don't like the way we played today,” Butts said. “We needed to tune up and see where we're at, so we'll use these days to get ready for Stanford.”