Feb. 8, 2004
Box Score
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Senior guard Cherie Lea poured in 16 points and freshman forward Michaela Vezenkova came off the bench to score a career-high 10 points in a decisive second half as UNC Wilmington downed George Mason, 63-54, in a battle for third place in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball Sunday at Trask Coliseum.
The Seahawks won their third straight and seventh in eight outings to improve to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in the CAA. The Patriots dropped their second consecutive game to fall to 11-7 and 6-5.
Lea, preseason Player-of-the-Year in the CAA, wound up hitting 5-of-11 shots and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds for the Seahawks. Vezenkova had scored a total of 18 points entering the game, but made 4-of-6 field goals and two free throws for her career high. Senior guard Jennifer Kapper also chipped in 13 points for UNCW, which shot 44.9 percent from the floor.
GMU struggled offensively from the outset, making just one of its first 16 field goal attempts, and finished shooting 35.2 percent from the floor. Senior guard Vernessa Neamo paced the Patriots with 14 points, followed by senior guard Jen Derevjanik with 13 and junior forward Laura Kooij with 11.
After leading at halftime, 20-14, the Seahawks pushed the margin to as many as 19 points before completing the sweep of the regular season series from the Patriots. UNCW took the first meeting in Fairfax, 65-57, back on Jan. 18.
The Seahawks scored the first five points of the second period to go ahead, 25-14, before the Patriots closed to within 30-24 on Lauren Hediger's 3-pointer with 14:08 remaining. But the Seahawks answered with back-to-back buckets and Vezenkova scored 10 straight points in a 12-0 run midway through the half to break the game open. Vezenkova hit a layup and added a free throw at 8:08 as UNCW enjoyed its biggest lead, 48-29.
GMU cut the deficit to 56-48 with 1:50 remaining when Hedifer nailed another long trey from the left side. But the Seahawks connected on 7-of-10 free throws the rest of the way to seal the victory.
UNCW took advantage of GMU's cold shooting to build a 20-14 lead at halftime. Derevjanik, averaging 18.0 ppg, missed all seven of her field goal attempts in the first half and the Patriots hit just 4-of-24 shots, while Lea took control, collecting five points and six rebounds in the first 20 minutes. The Seahawks led by as many as eight points when Lea connected on an 8-footer on the left wing for a 14-6 edge.
The Seahawks return to the hardwood Thursday with a 7 p.m. test at Towson. The Patriots begin a three-game homestand Wednesday, entertaining Virginia Commonwealth at 7 p.m. at the Patriot Center.
