March 2, 2003

Box Score

Richmond, VA- George Mason defeated Virginia Commonwealth, 59-52, in women's basketball action Sunday at the ALLTEL Pavilion at the Siegel Center Sunday afternoon.

Forward Khalilah Smith collected a team-high 13 points for the Patriots, while guard Jen Derevjanik earned 10 after shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Derevjanik made six straight free throws in the final moments to help seal the win for Mason after VCU had cut the lead to two, 51-49.

Guard Vernessa Neamo grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and dished out four assists in 36 minutes of play for the Patriots.

The Rams were led by junior guard Cyndy Wilks who poured in a game-high 24 points after shooting 8-of-14 from the field. Center Candice Phelps shot 6-of-6 on the afternoon to net a team second-best 12 points, while sophomore Kristina Cesnaviciute amassed a game-high three blocks for VCU.

VCU shot 40 percent in the first stanza, compared to Mason's 18 percent effort (6-of-34) from the field, but at the break the score was just 19-18 in favor of the Rams.

In the second half, Mason's shooting vastly improved (11 of 24) and the Patriots held advantage for most of the period. After trailing by as many as 14, the Rams pulled back to within two, 51-49, at the 1:05 mark, but the Patriots made eight straight free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.

VCU shot 47 percent (21-of-45), while Mason went 17-of-58 from the field (29 percent). The Patriots won the battle on the boards 39-34 and the Rams turned the ball over 25 times to Mason's 17.