Jan. 20, 2005

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. (www.uncwsports.com) - Senior guard Lauren Hediger scored 15 points and George Mason overcame a four-point halftime deficit as the Patriots defeated UNC Wilmington, 59-53, in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Thursday at Trask Coliseum.

GMU improves to 7-8 overall and evens its conference mark at 3-3. The Seahawks, meanwhile, dip to 4-11 and 1-5 in the CAA. The loss extends the Seahawks losing streak to five.

Joining Hediger in double figures was junior guard Jen Daniels with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-4 from behind the 3-point line. Senior center Julie Flanders and freshman forward Keyhana Wakefield added nine points apiece. Flanders added four steals as the Patriots totaled 10 swipes on the evening.

UNCW freshman forward Meagan Samis held game-high honors with 18 points. Freshman guard Meg Withrow chipped in 14 points while senior center Tanika Harrison added 10 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Denise Lawrence posted a career-high with six assists on the evening.

Trailing 29-20 with 1:56 left in the first half, the Patriots scored seven of the last nine points to close out the half and narrow their deficit to 31-27. Daniel's 3-pointer highlighted the outburst and Wakefield capped it with a pair of baskets in the final 1:23.

GMU opened the second half with another 7-2 blitz to take a 34-33 lead on Flanders' second basket of the spurt. Flanders fueled the run with six points. Samis answered with a layup at 16:45 to restore the UNCW lead, but another short jumper by Flanders ignited a 9-0 GMU run to take a 43-35 lead with 12:03 left in the contest.

The Patriots turned up the defensive pressure in the second half limiting the Seahawks to 33.3 percent shooting from the field and forcing 10 turnovers that led to 11 points.

UNCW rallied late with a 9-0 run of its own to move to within two, 53-51, with 34 seconds remaining. Hediger and Wakefield combined to knock down all six free throw attempts in the final 20 seconds to secure the win for GMU.

Samis and Harrison combined to score seven of the Seahawks nine points as UNCW built a nine-point lead, 29-20, with 1:56 left in the opening half.

The Seahawks visit James Madison Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip-off while the Patriots hosts Virginia Commonwealth also at 2 p.m.