Nov. 17, 2003

Box Score

FAIRFAX, VA--George Mason University's women's basketball team defeated the NWBL Elite Team by a score of 82-80 Monday night at the Patriot Center in exhibition play.

Senior guard Vernessa Neamo (Forestville, MD) poured in a team-high 20 points after shooting 8-of-15 on the night and grabbed a game-best 14 rebounds for the Patriots. Guard Jen Derevjanik (Sr.; Staten Island, NY) netted a team second-best 16 points and added a game-high six assists for Mason in 38 minutes of play, while junior Laura Kooij (Den Helder, Holland) collected 14 points and seven rebounds. Center Julie Flanders (Jr.; St. Thomas, Virgin Islands) came off the bench to score in double figures (11) and also added a team second-best nine rebounds for the Patriots.

NWBL was led by Rochelle Luckett who amassed a game-high 23 points in 27 minutes of play, while Kristeena Alexander and Kimberly Smith each added 10 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Elite. Shalayna Johnson scored 12 points off the bench in just 17 minutes of play, while Vania Flowers grabbed a team-best eight rebounds for NWBL.

As a team, Mason shot 35 percent and grabbed 58 boards, while NWBL garnered a shooting percentage of 44 and collected 47 rebounds on the night. The Patriots capitalized on second chance points with 21 to the NWBL's nine and Mason scored 13 points off turnovers, while the Elite amassed 11. There were nine lead changes and the score was tied eight times in this exhibition match-up.

The Patriots will return to action on Nov. 26 with their regular season opener against Georgetown at the Patriot Center with a 7 p.m. start.