Feb. 12, 2004

Box Score

Fairfax, VA--Four players scored in double figures to lead George Mason University's women's basketball team (12-7, 7-5 CAA) to an 80-60 victory over Virginia Commonwealth (9-11, 6-6) in a key Colonial Athletic Association match-up Thursday evening at the Patriot Center. With this win, Mason is currently tied with UNC Wilmington for third place in the conference standings.

Jen Derevjanik (Sr.; Staten Island, NY) poured in a game-high 19 points and added a game-best six assists for the Patriots in the win. Junior Laura Kooij (Den Helder, Holland) netted a game second-best 17 points after shooting 60 percent on the night, including 5-of-7 from long range, while junior center Julie Flanders (Virgin Islands) registered a career-high 14 points after shooting 7-of-11 from the field. Senior forward Vernessa Neamo (Forestville, MD) also amassed 14 points and added eight rebounds, along with a game-high five steals on the night for the Patriots.

Kristina Cesnaviciute registered a double-double for the Rams with a career-high 16 points and a game-best 10 boards, which matches her personal best. Cesnaviciute also mirrored her career-best in blocks with seven. League-leading scorer, Cyndy Wilks, was held to 15 points on the night after shooting 6-of-16 from the field.

The Patriots dominated on the night as they led the entire game. The closest VCU would get was one point at the 17:59 mark in the first half after a made jumper by Cesnaviciute, which was followed by a 12-0 run to put the Patriots ahead 17-4 almost five minutes into the game. VCU's Lauren Hogan made two free throws in the closing seconds of the half to pull the Rams within eight at the break, 39-31.

Mason had its largest lead of the game at 25 with four minutes remaining in the game after a 2-pointer from Flanders. The next basket for the Patriots was again by Flanders who made a layup with help from Derevjanik at 3:07 to put the score at 79-55. Freshman Tracy Ann Holness (Queens, NY) put the Patriots' score at 80 after a made free throw with under two minutes remaining in the game.

Mason shot 30-of-73 from the field (41 percent) and 47 percent from 3-point range, while VCU was 23-of-59 on the night (39 percent) and 17 percent from long range. The Rams won the battle of the boards, 52-42, but the Patriots scored 21 points off turnovers to VCU's five and Mason collected 16 fast break points to the Rams' eight.

The Patriots will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 15 when they host William & Mary at 2 p.m.