Nov. 26, 2002

Washington, D.C....The George Mason women's basketball team dropped a 76-73 overtime thriller at Georgetown Tuesday night.

Jen Derevjanik (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) and Vernessa Neamo (Forestville, MD/DuVal) both scored career-high points, but their efforts weren't enough to lift the Patriots (1-1) past the Hoyas (2-0).

Neamo, selected the CAA Player of the Week just a few hours before game time, recorded a double-double against the Hoyas with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Derevjanik racked up 31 points.

Khalilah Smith (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) scored six points for the Patriots, while Shelbylynn McBride (Valrico, FL/Durant) and Susan Otim (Fairfax, VA/Fairfax) each pulled down six rebounds.

Georgetown was led by Rebekkah Brunson, who had a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Brunson forced the game into overtime by fielding a long in-bounds pass around midcourt, taking the ball to the hoop and scoring off the glass with just .7 seconds left in regulation.

The Hoyas were pushed against the wall just a few seconds before Brunson's basket when Derevjanik, with the shot clock off, worked the ball up the court and hit a shot to put Mason up 76-74 with just five seconds remaining.

Once in overtime, the Hoyas went on a 6-3 run and Georgetown's Nok Duany scored five of her 20 points to push the home team to the victory.

The Patriots took a 34-33 lead into halftime, courtesy of a bucket by Neamo with 10 seconds left on the clock. Neamo finished the first half with nine points and five rebounds, while Derevjanik scored 15 during the game's opening stanza.

George Mason held Georgetown scoreless during the first five minutes of the second half and the Patriots were able to open up a 41-33 lead, but the Hoyas were able to claw back from the deficit.

Mason's next game will be its home opener, a Dec. 4 contest versus Howard. Tip-off will be 7 p.m. at the Patriot Center.