Jan. 5, 2003

Box Score

FAIRFAX, VA... The George Mason women's basketball team ended a two-game losing streak and opened Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play with a decisive 82-57 win over James Madison Sunday afternoon at the Patriot Center.

Mason (4-4, 1-0) had four players score in double-figures, highlighted by 16 from Vernessa Neamo, who also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Khalilah Smith and Laura Kooij, who hit four 3-pointers, followed with 14 points each, while Osato Edobor-Osula added 10 points.

Jody LeRose paced James Madison (5-5, 0-1) with 16 points, followed by 10 from Krystal Brooks. Shanna Price grabbed nine boards.

After breaking a 14-14 tie on a 3-pointer from Lynette Clark with 11:39 to play in the first half, the Patriots never trailed again, surging out to a 43-35 advantage at the break.

Neamo scored a dozen points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor during the game's opening stanza, while Clark dished out three of her game-high six assists. Jen Derevjanik added five assists during the contest for the Patriots, who tallied 23 for the game.

In the second half, the Patriots opened up a 10-point lead, 58-48, on a jumper from Shelbylynn McBride at the 9:13 mark, and the Dukes never got back into the game.

Mason shot 51.7 percent from the floor (30-of-58), compared to 32.7 percent from James Madison (18-of-55). The Patriots also out-rebounded the Dukes, albeit by the slimmest of margins, 37-36.

George Mason continues its home stand with a conference game against William & Mary Friday at 7 p.m.